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THE  UNIVERSITY 

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BOOK    OF    WORDS 


X. 
THE    PAGEANT    OF    DARIEN 

THE    PAGEANT 
OF    A    RESIDENTIAL    COMMUNITY 


WILLIAM    CHAUNCY    LANGDON 
MASTER    OP    THE    PAGEANT 


WHERE    GOODWIVES'    RIVER 

FLOWS    INTO    GORHAM'S    POND,    NEAR    NOROTON 

IN    THE 

TOWN    OF    DARIEN,    CONNECTICUT 

AUGUST    29    Ca,    30    CS.    SEPTEMBER    1,   1913 


Copyright,  1913,  by 

William  Chauncy  Langdon 

all  rights  reserved 


THE   PAGEANT  OF   DARIEN 


THE  PAGEANT  COMMITTEE 

Executive  Committee 

Henry   M.   Baker,   Chairman 

Howard  Stout  Neilson,  Business  Manager 

George  R.  Bearse,  Treasurer 

Mark  W.  Norman,  Secretary 

Frank    R.    Holmes 

Alfred  Morehouse,  Jr. 

Alfred  H.  Renshaw 

Arthur   Philips 

Edwin   Milton   Royle 

Women's  Executive  Committee 

Mrs.  Arthur  Philips,  Chairman 

Miss  Birdsall 

Mrs.  B.  B.  Holmes 

Mrs.  Frank  R.   Holmes 

Mrs.  Franklin  M.  Jones 

Mrs.  George  H.   Noxon 

Mrs.  George  F.   Pentecost,  Jr. 

Mrs.  Alfred  H.   Renshaw 

Mrs.  Edwin  Milton  Royle 

Mrs.  William   M.   Weed 


THE  PAGEANT  DIRECTION 

William  Chauncy  Langdon 
Master  of  the  Pageant 

Arthur  Far  well 
Composer  and  Director  of  the  Music 

Marion  Langdon 
Director  of  the  Costuming 

Bertha  Knight 
Director  of  the  Dancing 


1109141 


The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


FOREWORD. 

The  Pageant  of  Darien  is  the  drama  of  a  residential  community. 
Situated  thirty-eight  miles  from  New  York  City  and  thirty-five  miles 
from  New  Haven,  having  neither  manufacturing  nor  business  and  de- 
siring none,  Darien  is  distinctly  a  town  of  homes.  It  is  a  town  of 
people  who  want  to  have  a  good,  comfortable  home,  who  most  of  them 
have  to  earn  their  living  in  the  city  but  want  to  bring  up  their  children 
in  the  country.  The  Pageant  of  Darien  is  a  study  in  dramatic  form  of 
the  history,  life  and  problems  of  a  small  town  within  the  home  radius  of 
a  great  metropolitan  centre.  What  is  home  to  a  commuter  ?  Is  there  any 
interest,  beauty,  inspiration  in  his  hurried,  to  and  fro  existence?  Of 
what  nature  was  the  country  and  village  life  that  led  up  to  the  life 
of  the  suburban  town  of  the  present?  The  Pageant  of  Darien  will 
depict  the  story  of  its  development  as  a  town.  The  episodes  either 
reproduce  actual  events  or  characterize  the  life  in  the  town  at  suc- 
cessive periods. 

The  pageant-grounds  are  located  on  the  shore  of  Gorham's  Pond, 
one  of  the  beautiful  inlets  that  make  in  from  the  Sound  along  the 
Connecticut  shore.  On  these  very  grounds  occurred  many  of  the  in- 
cidents enacted  in  the  pageant.  On  the  left  of  the  audience  is  a 
wooded  hill,  from  which  the  woods  extend  a  large  part  of  the  way 
across  the  back  of  the  pageant-held  to  the  water  where  Goodwives' 
River  empties  into  Gorham's  Pond.  Jutting  out  into  the  inlet  at  the 
right  of  the  audience  is  a  little  point  whereon  is  an  old  family  grave- 
yard of  a  hundred  years  ago.  The  field  itself  slopes  down  from  the 
hill  on  the  left  to  the  water  on  the  right. 

The  Pageant  of  Darien  has  been  written  and  composed  on  the 
principle  that  both  dramatically  and  musically  the  pageant  is  a  dis- 
tinct and  individual  art  form,  having  its  own  laws  and  its  own  tech- 


The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


nique.  All  the  elements  of  the  Pageant  of  Darien, — the  dramatic  epi- 
sodes, the  orchestral  and  choral  compositions,  the  costume  designing, 
and  the  dramatic  dancing, — have  been  worked  together  in  accordance 
with  these  laws  and  technical  considerations  to  produce,  if  may  be, 
a  beautiful  and  impressive  picture  of  the  life  of  this  historic  Connecti- 
cut town. 

In  presenting  the  historical  material  a  certain  freedom  has  been 
exercised  for  the  sake  of  dramatic  effectiveness.  In  many  instances 
the  language  of  the  dialogue  is  in  the  actual  words  of  the  characters 
represented.  It  has.  however,  seemed  inadvisable  to  indicate  these 
passages  by  quotation  marks  on  account  of  the  frequent  necessity  for 
making  slight  changes,  omissions  or  additions  in  the  wording  to  suit 
the  situation  as  represented.  So  also  since  the  writing  of  the  pageant- 
book,  certain  omissions  have  been  deemed  advisable  for  the 
performance  which  it  has  not  seemed  necessary  to  eliminate  in 
this  printed  form  of  the  pageant. 

W.  C.  L. 


The  Pageant  of   Darien. 


THE  PAGEANT  OF  DARIEN 


Introduction  :  The  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength. 


Episode  1 
Episode  2 
Episode  3 


The  Men  of  Wethersfield       1641 
The  War  with  Norwalk  1670 

The  Mill  at  the  Landing:         1744 


Interlude       I :  The  Changing  Tide 


Episode  4 
Episode  5 
Episode  6 


The  Raid  on  the  Middlesex  Church        1781 
The  Town  of  Darien  1820 

The  Coming-  of  the  Railroad  1849 


Interlude     II :  Principle  (1861-1865) 

Episode  7 :     Just  Home  1885 

Episode  8:     A  Place  in  the  Country       1905 


Interlude  III:  The  Commuter 

Episode  9:     The  New  Darien        1915 

Finale:  The  Community  Home 


The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


THE  MUSIC  OF  THE  PAGEANT 

Arthur  Far  well, 
Composer  and  Drector. 

As  a  musical  work  the  Pageant  of  Darien  consists  of  the  follow- 
ing dramatic  scenes,  all  of  which  have  been  composed  for  orchestra 
and  in  part  for  solo  and  chorus  voices : 

Introduction  :    The  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength 
The  Song  of  the  Man 
The  Song  of  the  Angels 

Interlude      I :  The  Changing  Tide 
The  Indian's  Chant 

Interlude     II :  Principal 

Interlude  III:  The  Commuters 

Finale:  The  Community  Home 
The  Call  to  the  Generations 
The  Song  of  the  People  of  Darien 
America 
The  Recessional  Song  of  Darien 

In  addition,  as  incident  to  the  historic  action  in  Episode  4:  The 
Raid  on  the  Middlesex  Church,  the  old  hymn,  Norwalk,  by  Mather, 
is  sung  by  the  congregation  in  that  episode. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  11 


THE   PAGEANT  OF   DARIEN 

INTRODUCTION 
THE   PLACE   OF   REST    AND   STRENGTH 

Trumpets  and  harps  sound  forth  the  chief  motif  of  the  pageant, 
the  motif  of  the  Angel  of  Rest  and  Strength.  From  out  of  the  woods 
comes  the  Angel,  alighting  sword  in  hand  a  short  ways  out  into  the 
field.  She  is  clothed  in  rose,  and  her  wings  are  a  deeper  rose  with 
the  feathers  tipped  with  gold.  The  Angel  sweeps  her  sword  out  over 
the  ground  and  then  raises  it  high  in  command.  From  the  woods  come 
Forest  Spirits,  mostly  in  green,  and  from  the  inlet  Water  Spirits, 
mostly  in  blue.  They  bring  with  them  at  the  behest  of  the  Angel  ever- 
green boughs  which  they  pile  before  the  Angel  as  a  resting  place,  wood 
which  they  build  into  a  fire,  and  water,  some  of  which  they  pour  out 
as  a  libation  before  the  Angel  and  before  the  fire.  Meantime  Evil 
Spirits  peer  out  from  the  woods  inquisitively  and  watch  the  prepara- 
tion. Again  the  Angel  sweeps  forth  her  sword  over  the  place  of  rest 
and  refreshening. 

From  the  shore,  between  the  grave-yard  and  the  water,  comes  a 
Man,  a  pilgrim  through  the  world.  On  his  back  he  bears  a  large  and 
heavy  burden,  under  which  he  staggers  along.  Following  him  comes 
his  wife,  carrying  one  little  child  in  her  arms  and  leading  another 
by  the  hand.  Two  other  children  trudge  along  after  their  parents. 
They  plod  along  on  their  way,  striving  to  attain  to  the  Place  of  Rest 
and  Strength  where  they  see  the  Angel. 

The  Angel  goes  back  into  the  forest,  and  the  Spirits  also  retire 
back  whence  they  came.  But  the  Evil  Spirits  emerge  and  with  con- 
certed action  start  to  divert  and  impede  the  Man's  course,  pointing  him 
off  in  another  direction,  seizing  him  by  the  garments  and  dragging  him 


12  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

back,  well  nigh  frustrating  his  efforts  to  make  any  progress.  Finally 
from  the  grave-yard  comes  Death,  shrouded  in  mouldy  white,  with 
other  kindred  beings,  who  attempt  to  draw  the  Man  back  or  to  take  one 
or  other  of  his  dear  ones  from  him.  Persistently  the  Man,  followed 
by  his  wife  and  terrified  children  staggers  along  amid  the  ejaculatory 
mutterings  of  the  evil  ones.  At  last  beaten  down  to  the  ground  and 
driven  back  almost  as  far  as  he  had  come,  in  the  anguish  of  despair 
the  Man  gives  voice  to  his  yearning  and  determination. 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  MAN. 

Curse  ye !    Begone, 

Evil  forebodings. 

My  wearied  children 

Must  reach  yon  refuge. 

Dare  not  molest  them, 

Pestering  imps ! 

Bar  not  our  passage! 

Still  we  go  onward, 

Spite  all  your  malice! — yea,  at  length 

Gain  the  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength ! 

The  Evil  Spirits  laugh  mockingly  at  the  Man. 

Heavenward  the  smoke  wreathes ! 

Fragrant  the  fir! 

Behold  the  cool  water 

Awaiting  us  there! 

Bright  Angels  bless  the  longed-for  place, 

And  gentle  Spirits  dwell  around ! 

For  there  I  saw 

A  radiant  Angel 

Bidding  us  hasten. 

Bring  our  dear  children  there  ! 

Then  on!    Still  on !    On!    At  length 

Our  goal  we  reach, — the  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength! 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  13 

Death  makes  a  sudden  attack  and  seizes  one  of  the  children.  The 
mother  and  the  Man  in  despair  grapple  with  Death  to  wrest  the  child 
from  him. 

Angel !    Glorious  one !    Return ! 

Stretch  forth  thy  sword !     Save,  save  our  child. 

From  Death  oh  bring  us  safe  at  length 

To  that  fair  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength ! 

Again  to  the  sound  of  trumpets  and  harps  the  Angel  comes  forth 
from  the  depths  of  the  forest.  With  a  sweep  of  her  sword  she  com- 
mands the  Evil  Spirits  to  desist.  They  fall  back  to  the  two  sides, 
Death  alone  still  pursuing  the  Man  a  little  ways  as  he  now  more 
steadily  makes  his  way  up  toward  the  place  of  rest  and  refreshening. 
Then  Death,  too,  retires  back  to  his  graves. 

Reaching  the  place  the  Man  sinks  on  one  knee  before  the  Angel. 
At  the  touch  of  her  sword  the  Man  drops  his  burden  to  the  ground. 
The  Man  and  the  Woman  pour  water  on  each  other's  hands  and 
wrists,  and  give  the  children  to  drink.  Then  all  lie  down  on  the  ever- 
green boughs  before  the  fire,  the  Man  and  the  Woman  pillowing  their 
heads  on  the  burden.    They  fall  asleep. 

The  Angel  raises  her  arms  and  her  sword  over  the  sleeping 
family.  From  the  woods  and  from  the  water  again  come  the  kindly 
Spirits  waving  green  branches  and  wafting  breezes  over  them.  Then 
last  at  the  summons  of  the  Angel  from  the  depths  of  the  forest  come 
a  number  of  Angels,  who  alight  and  stand  guard  over  the  family  as 
they  sleep.  The  music,  in  which  the  voices  of  the  Angels  and  Spirits 
blend,  dazzlingly  brilliant,  surpassingly  majestic,  expresses  the  increas- 
ing strength  the  Man  and  his  family  are  gaining,  finally  reaching  a 
climax  of  power,  with  which  the  Man  and  his  family  awaken. 

THE  SONG  OF  THE  ANGELS. 

Peace  and  Strength  in  all  your  ways ! 

Courage  nerve  you  for  the  strife ! 
Here  shall  Rest  restore  your  days, 

Love  assuage  the  toil  of  life! 


14  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Never  here  shall  Doubt  or  Fear 

Gloom  the  radiance  of  the  heart ! 
Nor  Distrust  dispel  the  Cheer 

Of  the  Place— the  Place  Apart ! 

Rise !    Go  forth  thy  meed  to  earn ! 

Spend   thy   strength !     Then  home   return ! 
Wearied,  weak,  return  at  length 

To  the  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength ! 

The  Man  and  his  family  arise.  Lightly  he  resumes  his  burden, 
and  the  Angel  pointing  him  forth  his  way  on  up  the  hill  through  the 
woods,  he  departs,  followed  by  his  family.  The  Spirits  retire  back 
among  the  trees.    The  Angels  go  back  into  the  forest. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  15 


EPISODE  1:     THE  MEN  OF  WETHERSFIELD. 

(1641) 

From  the  wood-road  comes  an  Indian  runner,  who  turns  up 
toward  the  hill  giving  the  short  shrill  cry  of  a  fox.  He  plunges  into 
the  woods  of  the  hill.  In  a  moment  he  returns  leading  three  Indian 
chiefs,  the  Sagamores  Ponus,  Wascusse  and  Owenoke,  Ponus'  son. 
Out  of  the  woods  following  them  stealthily  come  a  number  of  Indians, 
all  looking  and  listening  intently  in  the  direction  whence  the  runner 
came.  One  Indian  climbs  a  tree  and  peers  forth  into  the  forest,  now 
and  then  giving  the  caw  of  a  crow,  which  the  other  Indians  seem  to 
understand.  A  group  of  squaws  and  children  follow  but  are  warned 
back.  Finally  the  Indian  in  the  tree  gives  three  hurried  caws,  points 
to  the  woods,  and  glides  down  the  tree.  Watching  the  wood-road  the 
Indians  conceal  themselves  in  the  underbrush. 

Out  of  the  forest  by  the  wood-road  come  the  Men  of  Wethersfield 
with  their  families  and  goods  and  driving  their  sheep  and  cattle.  The 
Rev.  Richard  Denton  rides  on  a  horse  in  the  lead  with  his  Bible-box 
with  him  on  the  horse.  Most  of  the  men  are  on  foot,  but  here  and  there 
is  a  man  on  horseback  with  his  wife  a-pillion  behind  him.  There  are 
several  ox-carts  loaded  high  with  household  and  farming  goods.  The 
older  boys  walk ;  the  girls  and  younger  children  ride,  the  little  ones 
being  carried  by  their  mothers  in  their  arms. 

The  three  Indian  Sagamores  step  forward  from  among  the  trees 
and  advance  toward  the  white  men  with  uplifted  hands.  The  cara- 
van stops.  The  Rev.  Richard  Denton  dismounts  and  he  and  two  of 
the  other  men,  Matthew  Mitchell  and  Francis  Bell,  go  forward  to 
meet  the  Indians,  their  hands  also  uplifted.  Some  of  the  Indians  rise 
from  their  hiding  places  and  others  are  seen  skulking  around  through 
the  trees  to  gain  positions  on  the  flank  and  in  the  rear  of  the  settlers. 

Ponus  :  Who  are  you  ?  Why  do  you  come  through  my  hunting 
grounds  ? 


16  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :    We  are  come  seeking  a  home. 
PoNus:    Home?    Waugh !     Hunting  ground?    Mine. 
Rev.  Richard  Denton  :    What  are  your  names? 

PoNUS     (pointing  to  himself  and  to  the  others  in  turn)  :  Ponus; 

Wascusse ;  Owenoke. 

The  diree  white  men  confer  with  each  other,  pointing  at  the  three 

Indians,   after   which   the   Rev.    Richard   Denton   again    turns   to   the 

Indians. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  Then  know,  Ponus,  Wascusse  and  Owenoke, 
that  we  have  hought  all  the  land  of  Rippowams  from  the  New 
Haven  Colony  (Expressions  of  indignant  objections  from  the 
Indians).  You  sold  it  to  them,  to  Nathaniel  Turner  of  Quenepi- 
ocke. 

Ponus:  No.  No  sell;  no  sell.  (The  other  two  Indians  join  in  the 
denial.) 

Rev.  Richard  Dentox:  Here  is  the  paper.  You  signed  it  with  your 
mark,  every  one  of  you.  Here;  and  here;  and  here.  (The  Indi- 
ans look  at  the  marks.)  And  Captain  Turner  paid  you  for  the 
land  at  the  time  in  part  12  glasses,  12  knives  and  4  coats. 

Francis  Bell  :  See,  there  is  one  of  the  knives  he  gave  you  in  your  belt. 

Matthew  Mitchell:  You  sold  this  land  and  we  have  bought  it.  We 
will  defend  it. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  The  Men  of  Quenepiocke,  of  New  Haven, 
are  behind  this  paper. 

Ponus  looks  on  the  other  side  of  the  paper  incredulously.  He 
then  looks  at  the  swords  and  flint-locks  of  Francis  Bell  and  of  Mat- 
thew Mitchell,  and  glances  off  at  the  numbers  of  the  settlers.  At  a 
slight  sign  from  him  the  Indian  runner  comes  up  and  with  gestures  re- 
ports the  large  numbers  of  the  white  men  and  their  strength.  Ponus 
then  indicates  his  consent  to  the  claims  of  the  Men  of  Wethersfield. 
Ponus:    Waugh!    All  right. 

Rev.  Ricii.xkd  Denton:  This  land,  Rippowams,  all  Toquams  and 
Shippan,  is  ours,  to  be  our  home  and  our  children's  home  forever, 
as  long  as  the  sun  shines  and  the  rivers  flow.      (Phlegmatic  ex- 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  17 


clamations  of  assent  from  the  Indians.)  Only  you  may  hunt  and 
fish  here  in  your  native  forests  and  streams.  (Animated  and  de- 
Hghted  expressions  from  the  Indians,  some  starting  forward  at 
once  to  examine  the  sheep  and  the  cattle.) 

Francis  Bell  and  Matthew  Mitchell:   Hold!   Back! 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  Only  the  wild,  not  these  animals,  these  sheep 
and  cattle  that  we  bring  with  us.  (Disgruntled  assent  on  the  part 
of  the  Indians.)  And  there  shall  be  peace  and  friendship  between 
Ponus  and  Wascusse  and  Owenoke  and  their  people  and  the  Men 
of  Wethersfield  and  their  people  forever,  as  long  as  the  sun  shall 
shine  and  the  rivers  flow. 

Ponus,  Wascusse  and  Owenoke  :   Waugh !  Waugh !  Good !  Good ! 

At  a  sign  from  Ponus  several  of  the  Indian  warriors  come  for- 
ward, as  also  do  several  of  the  settlers.  They  all  sit  down  in  a  circle 
with  an  opening  towards  the  east.  The  peace-pipe  is  lighted  by  Ponus, 
passed  around  and  smoked  by  all.  Some  of  the  other  Indians  stand 
by  vvatching;  others  yield  to  their  curiosity  in  regard  to  the  white  men, 
their  flocks,  herds  and  possessions.  They  are  prevented  by  the  alert 
attention  of  the  settlers  from  stealing,  however.  One,  much  interested 
ni  the  dogs,  seizes  one  of  them,  feels  his  ribs  and  legs  to  see  if 
he  would  be  good  to  eat,  and  examines  his  teeth,  finally  giving  his 
verdict  with  a  grunt,  "Hm !  Wolf !  Tame  wolf !"  When  the  cere- 
mony of  smoking  the  peace-pipe  is  concluded,  the  Indians  rise,  raise 
their  hands  in  salutation  and  disappear  into  the  forest. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  (turning  with  Francis  Bell  and  Matthew 
Mitchell  to  the  Company  of  the  Men  of  Wethersfield)  :  Come  now, 
my  people.  Through  toils  and  journeyings  and  tribulations  the 
Lord  has  led  us  into  this  land.  Here  are  we  on  the  borders  of  our 
land,  a  goodly  land,  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  which  the 
Lord  has  appointed  us  for  our  dwelling  place  from  generation  to 
generation. 

Stand  forth  now  therefore  ye  whose  place  is  here  to  the  east 
of  the  River  of  the  Rippowams,  as  was  apportioned  in  the  meet- 
ing. 


18  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Francis  Bell,  of  the  276  acres  the  company  of  the  people  ap- 
portioned to  you  7  acres,  which  lie  on  this  side  of  the  Rippowam. 
Are  you  content? 

Fr^vncis  Bell:   I  am  content. 

The  People:    It  is  well. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  Draw  then  apart  your  people,  your  cattle 
and  your  goods,  that  you  may  enter  into  possession  of  your  land. 
Francis  Bell  leads  his  ox-cart,  on  which  is  his  wife  and  his  goods, 
off  to  one  side.    The  two  others  as  called  forth  do  the  same. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  Robert  Bates,  the  company  of  the  people 
apportioned  to  you  10  acres.     Are  you  content? 

Robert  Bates  :   I  am  content. 

The  People:    It  is  well. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  Thomas  Marshall,  the  company  of  the  peo- 
ple apportioned  to  you  7  acres.    Are  you  content? 

Thomas  Marshall:    I  am  content. 

The  People:    It  is  well. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  And  be  it  remembered  that  the  company 
chose  in  meeting  Alatthew  Mitchell  and  Francis  Bell  to  lay  out  the 
assignments  of  the  land.  To  rectify  what  is  amiss  and  consider 
what  allowance  is  to  be  made  for  holes,  etc.  which  are  not  fit  to 
be  measured  for  land.  If  then  any  believe  themselves  aggrieved 
and  with  cause  for  complaint,  let  them  betake  them  to  Matthew 
Mitchell  and  to  Francis  Bell. 

The  People  :   So  let  it  be  done. 

Rev.  Richard  Denton  :  Come  now,  friends,  let  us  proceed  on  our 
way  to  the  banks  of  the  Rippowam,  where  are  our  lands,  where 
our  homes  shall  be. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Denton  leading  the  way,  the  company  of  the 
settlers  again  take  up  their  way  passing  out  together  in  the  direction 
of  the  Rippowam  River,  Francis  Bell,  Robert  Bates,  and  Thomas  Mar- 
shall with  their  families  and  possessions  severally  taking  their  own 
ways  to  their  own  assignments  of  land. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  19 


EPISODE  2:     THE  WAR  WITH   NORWALK. 

(1670) 

Piamakin,  Sagamore  of  Rooaton,  comes  out  of  the  woods,  fol- 
lowed by  a  group  of  three  warriors.    He  looks  out  over  the  water. 

Piamakin  :  There  come  men  of  Norwalk.  Norwalk  men  buy  land. 
Give  Piamakin  coats,  knives,  wampum.     Great  chief  Piamakin. 

Warrior  :   What  land  Norwalk  men  buy  ? 

Piamakin:    This  land.     All  this  land. 

Warrior  :    Stamford  men  buy  this  land  years  back. 

Piamakin  :  Stamford  men  buy ;  Norwalk  men  buy.  Good  land. 
Piamakin  sell  land  always. 

Warrior:  Stamford  men  say,  "This  land  our  land.  Give  Piamakin 
long  wampum  years  back. 

Piamakin  :  Stamford  men  give  wampum.  Wampum  all  gone.  Where 
Stamford  men  now?  New  Stamford  men.  Deer  all  gone.  Fish 
all  gone.  New  deer.  New  fish.  Only  land  and  Piamakin  still 
here. 

Warrior  :    W^hite  men  kill.     White  men  make  war  on  Piamakin. 

Piamakin  :  White  men  make  war,  but  not  on  Piamakin.  White  men 
make  war  on  white  men.  Piamakin  always  smoke  peace-pipe. 
Great  chief  Piamakin. 

A  row-boat  bearing  four  men  from  Norwalk  puts  ashore  at  the 
point.  They  draw  the  boat  up  on  the  land  and  come  up  to  greet  Piama- 
kin. About  the  same  time  a  Stamford  man  comes  along  through  the 
woods  with  snares  and  flint-lock,  hunting.  He  catches  sight  of  the 
approaching  group  without  being  himself  seen.  His  suspicions  are 
aroused  and  he  steals  up  as  close  as  he  can  to  listen  and  observe.  After 
silent  greetings  the  Norwalk  men  give  Piamakin  presents,  which  he 
accepts. 


20  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


PiAMAKiN  :  Piamakin  friend  of  Norwalk  men.  \Miat  Norwalk  men 
want  Piamakin  do  for  his  brothers?     It  is  already  done. 

Matthias  Richard.s:  We  want  to  buy  land  of  Piamakin  for  Norwalk. 

Piamakin  :  Piamakin  no  want  sell  land.  This  land  Piamakin's  home. 
He  love  this  land.  But  Piamakin's  friends  and  brothers  want 
this  land.     They  shall  have  it. 

Matthias  Richards:  It  is  good.  For  how  much  you  sell  to 
Norwalk  ? 

Piamakin:  Piamakin  no  sell.  He  love  Norwalk  men.  He  give  land 
to  Norwalk  men. 

Isaac  Keeiler  :    And  we  will  give  you  presents. 

Ephraim  Greggorie:   We  w'ill  give  you  four  coats. 

Matthias  Richards  :    And  twelve  tobacco  pipes. 

Nathaniel  Marvin:   And  ten  knives,  and  three  fathom  of  wampum.' 

There  is  a  pause,  during  which  Piamakin  silently  considers  the 
proffer  and  eyes  the  Norwalk  men  critically. 

Piamakin:    Not  enough  presents.     More  presents. 

Nathaniel  Marvin  :    Twenty  knives. 

Matthias  Richards:   And  five  fathom  of  wampum. 

Piamakin:  And  Piamakin  hunt  and  fish  here,  and  his  people? 

Norwalk  Men  :  Yes. 

Piamakin:  It  is  good.  Give  me  the  wampum.  Give  me  the  coats, 
the  pipes  and  the  knives.  Smoke  the  pipe.  There  shall  be  peace 
forever  between   Pia;nakin   and    Norwalk. 

The  Norwalk  men  hand  over  some  of  the  things,  and  go  down  to 
the  boat  for  the  rest  of  them.    Piamakin  and  his  warriors  take  them. 

Piamakin:    It  is  good.     The  land  belongs  to  my  brothers. 

Piamakin  abru])tly  disappears  with  his  warriors  into  the  woods. 

The  Stamford  man's  indignation  has  been  rising  even  beyond  his  pru- 
dence. As  the  Indians  disappear,  he  bursts  out  upon  the  Norwalk 
men. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  21 


Jeremy   Simkins:    Hold!     I  saw.     I  heard.     This  land  belongs  to 

Stamford. 
Isaac  Keeiler:    This  land  belongs  to  Norwalk.     We  have  bought  it. 
Jeremy  Simkins:    We  will  maintain  our  rights. 

Nathaniel  Marvin  :  Away,  silly  man.  Because  we  have  got  ahead 
of  you  and  bought  the  land  you  desired,  do  you  think  to  beat 
us  out  of  our  lawful  possessions? 

Jeremy  Simkins:  I  will  to  Stamford. 

Ephraim  Greggorie:   Do! 

The  Stamford  man  hurries  out  on  the  run. 

Isaac  Keeiler:  The  man's  temper  gives  speed  to  his  legs.  There 
are  Stamford  men  not  far  from  here. 

Nathaniel  Marvin  :   Let  us  back  and  tell  the  towm  of  Norwalk. 

Piamakin  is  seen  passing  in  the  woods.  Matthias  Richards  hails 
him. 

Matthias  Richards  :  Hear  you,  Piamakin.  A  man  from  Stamford 
came  shouting  in  unseemly  manner  that  Stamford  owns  this  land. 

Piamakin  :  Piamakin  knows  he  give  this  land  to  his  brothers,  to  Nor- 
walk.    See !     Here  is  the  wampum. 

Matthias  Richards  :  We  will  defend  our  land. 
Norwalk  Men  :   To  the  boat. 
Piamakin  :    Ugh  !     It  is  good. 

The  Norwalk  men  rush  down  to  the  boats  and  push  off.  Piama- 
kin v/atches  them  and  then  disappears  into  the  woods  again.  From  the 
west  come  a  group  of  Stamford  men  through  the  woods,  cautiously 
peering  out  to  see  if  the  Norwalk  men  are  still  there. 

Matthew  Lum  :  Go  forth,  Jeremy.  See  if  the  Norwalk  men  are 
still  there. 

Jeremy  Simkin  :    Nay.     If  they  be,  they  might  recognize  me. 
John  Pop:   Can  you  not  recognize  them  as  well  as  they  you? 

They  push  Simkins  out  into  the  open.  Finding  no  one  in  sight, 
with  increasing  boldness  he  comes  out  a  ways  into  the  field. 


22  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Jeremy  Simkixs:   There  is  none  here!    They  have  fled! 
Several  (coming  out)  :   It  is  well.    They  admit  they  have  no  right. 

A  man,  Edmund  Swead,  climbs  a  tree  down  by  the  wall  and  looks 
across  the  water. 

Edmund  Swead:  The  Norwalk  men  are  coming!  They  have  four 
boats ! 

Matthew  Lum  :    Be  brave,  neighbors!     Courage  for  Stamford! 

Simon  Crabb:    Now  will  we  confront  them? 

Jeremy  Simkins:   Aye,  I  am  afraid  we  will. 

Edmund  Swead:    Who  knows  but  they  come  peaceably? 

Matthew  Lum  :   We  will  conceal  ourselves  and  watch  what  they  do. 

Jeremy  Simkins:   Aye,  that  is  an  excellent  plan. 

Matthew  Lum  :  We  will  form  in  double  line — the  younger  men  in 
front,  the  older  men  as  reserve  in  another  line  behind  them. 

Andrew  Seiring  (an  old  man)  :  The  older  men  behind  to  counsel 
and   advise   the   younger   men. 

Matthew  Lum  :  Now,  form  the  lines.  (The  men  take  places  in 
two  lines.)  There,  that  is  good.  Here,  Jeremy  Simkins,  you 
should  be  in  the  front  line. 

Jeremy  Simkins  :  But  I  am  an  older  man.  I  can  show  you,  Matthew 
Lum,  in  the  Bible,  by  the  entry  of  my  birth  that  I  am  an  older 
man. 

M.\tthew  Lum:    Nay,  come  forward!     (Several  push  him  forward.) 

Jeremy  Simkins:    I  have  the  Bible  for  it! 

Matthew  Lum  :  Now  in  this  order  conceal  yourselves  among  the 
trees,  until  we  see  what  the  Norwalk  men  will  do. 

As  they  hide  behind  the  trees  and  in  the  underbrush,  the  men 
of  Norwalk  row  up  to  the  shore  and  beach  their  boats.  Several  come 
peering  up  the  bank  to  see  if  any  Stamford  men  are  there.  Some  have 
axes  and  scythes. 

Matthias  Richards:  You  men  with  axes  and  scythes  go  first,  that 
it  may  appear  that  we  have  merely  come  with  peaceful  intent  to  cut 
wood  and  grass. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  23 


Ralph   Hales:  Here,  Joseph  Senchion,  you  have  no  scythe.     You 

may  have  mine. 
Joseph  Senchion  :    No,  no,  you  go  ahead. 

Matthew  Lum  (rising,  to  the  Stamford  men)  :  Now,  out  upon  them! 
Confront  them ! 

The  Stamford  men  rush  out  a  short  ways  and  stop.  The  Nor- 
walk  men  stop  short  in  their  tracks  with  astonishment.  They  face 
each  other,  neither  side  caring  to  make  the  next  move. 

Stamford  Men  :  Begone ! 
NoRWALK  Men  :   Away  with  you  ! 

Matthew  Lum  :  What  right  have  you  Norwalk  men  to  cut  grass 
on  this  side  the  Five  Mile  River? 

Thomas  Fitch  (stepping  forward  amid  noise  and  turmoil  among  the 
Norwalk  men):  Be  quiet!  Know,  you  men  of  Stamford,  that 
the  town  of  Norwalk  has  appointed  me,  Thomas  Fitch,  to  come 
with  the  men  of  Norwalk  who  cross  the  Five  Mile  River  to 
cut  hay  to  make  answer  for  or  in  behalf  of  the  town — and  the 
rest  to  be  silent. 

Matthew  Lum  :  Cease  thy  prate,  man.  Be  off  with  you  all  to 
Norwalk. 

Norwalk  Men:  We'll  not!  Be  off  to  Stamford!  We'll  slay  you 
all  in  your  trespass  !    We'll  fight  for  our  land ! 

Thomas  Fitch:  Be  quiet!  Be  quiet!  SILENCE! — Did  not  the 
town  order — me  to  speak  and  the  rest  to  be  silent? 

Ephraim  Greggorie:    W'e'll  not  abide  the  affront  of  these — 

Thomas  Fitch  :  SILENCE !  How  can  I  make  a  good  case  for  the 
law  if  you  persist  in  your  gabble,  defying  the  Town  Meeting? 
Let  me  reason  with  these  Stamford  men. 

Jeremy    Simkins:     Aye!      Reason!      Reason    is    better    than    force. 
Come,  men,  let  us  hear  reason. 

Stamford  Men  :    The  land  is  ours.     That's  all  there  is  to  it. 

Norwalk  Men  :   'Tis  ours.    We  bought  it  from  Piamakin. 


24  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Thomas  FiTcii :  Silence!    SILENCE! 

Stamford  Men:   He  sold  it  to  us  long  ago! 

Matthias  Richards:    Leave  it  to  Piamakin. 

Stamford  Men:    No!     NO! 

Thomas  Fitch  :  That  would  hardly  be  safe.  There'd  be  more  pres- 
ents.— Friends  and  neighbors  of  Stamford  and  Norwalk,  let  us 
endeavor  to  bring  this  dispute  to  a  loving  and  neighborly  issue. 
You  men  of  Stamford  say  that  Piamakin  sold  this  land  to  you 
long  since.  If  so,  your  claim  has  the  dignity  of  age,  though 
harder  to  prove.  We  claim  that  Piamakin  sold  this  land  to 
Norwalk — recently.  Our  claim  may  have  the  weakness  of  youth, 
but  it  is  thereby  the  easier  to  prove.  Let  us  not  now  shed  one 
another's  blood.  Let  us  refer  our  grave  dispute  to  the  just  de- 
cision of  the  General  Court  at  New  Haven.  What  say  you? 
Is  it  your  will?     (Pause.)     What  say  you  all? 

All,  of  Both  Towns:   It  is! 

Thomas  Fitch  :  Now,  then,  as  friends  and  neighbors  shall  we  part. 
Each  town  appoint  four  men  to  plead  its  cause  before  the  Court. 

Several  Stamford  Men  :  But  we  will  get  this  land !  The  Court — 
Several  Norwalk  Men  :  'Tis  ours !  The  Court  will  so  decide. 
Thomas  Fitch  :  Peace — till  we  meet  before  the  Court  in  New  Haven. 
The  Norwalk  men  go  off  down  to  their  boats  and  embark.  The 
Stamford  men  similarly  march  off  to  the  west,  some  on  each  side 
shaking  their  fists  at  the  other  side.  As  they  go,  Piamakin  and  his 
three  warriors  come  out  from  the  woods  a  little  ways.  He  looks 
after  first  one  party,  then  the  other. 

Piamakin:    (iood !     It   is  good!     White  man  know   how   fight  and 
smoke  peace-pipe  both  same  time.     White  man  call  it  Law. 
Piamakin  and  his  warriors  turn  and  disappear  into  the  woods. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  25 


EPISODE  3:    THE  MILL  AT  THE  LANDING 

(1744) 

George  Gorum,  the  miller,  conies  out  and  looks  over  the  water, 
as  John  Bates,  a  prosperous  farming  gentleman  of  the  time,  rides  in 
on  horse-back.  Gorum  is  nodding  to  himself  and  rubbing  his  hands 
with  satisfaction. 

John  Bates:  George  Gorum,  Captain  George  Gorum,  it  is  a  public 
service  that  you  have  rendered  by  building  this  mill  of  yours. 

George  Gorum  :   You  tell  me  so  every  time  you  come,  John  Bates. 

John  Bates:  I  may  have  mentioned  it  before.  It  is  worthy  of  rep- 
etition throughout  the  colony,  sir.  (Gorum  seems  more  concerned 
about  something  on  the  water  and  finds  the  conversation  too  long.) 
I  can  now  get  my  corn  ground  without  going  on  a  journey, 
practically  at  home.  I  can  attend  to  it  when  I  take  my  little 
morning   canter. 

George  Gorum  :  You  have  some  corn  coming  to  the  mill  this  morning? 

John  Bates:  I  have.  It  is  coming  right  along.  To  haul  my  corn 
those  five  miles  to  Stamford  town  was  galling  to  me,  sir.  In  the 
eye  of  every  one  of  those  people  I  could  see  that  in  their  hearts 
they  considered  Middlesex  men  as  dependent  upon  them,  de- 
pendent upon  them,  sir.  (Bates  has  a  mannerism  of  going  straight 
ahead  and  then  turning  back  to  add  another  remark.)  Middle- 
sex can  stand  upon  her  own  feet,  I  say,  quite  indepen3ent  of 
Stamford  and  every  other  place.     We  are  English,  are  we  not? 

George  Gorum  :   We  are. 

John  Bates  :  Fight  for  the  Union  Jack  and  attend  to  our  own  afifairs. 
Here  comes  my  corn.     Fine  corn  that,  George  Gorum. 

A  farmer  drives  in  a  wagon  loaded  with  corn  in  bags,  coming 
the  same  way  that  John  Bates  had  come.  Gorum  shouts  and  two  of 
his  men  come  out  of  the  mill,  and  help  Bates'  man  to  unload  the  corn 
and  carry  it  into  the  mill.     Mrs.  Gorum  also  comes  out. 


26  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

John  Bates:  Good  day  to  you,  Mistress  Gorum.  Look  at  that  corn. 
Is  not  that  as  fine  corn  as  you  ever  saw  come  to  your  husband's 
excellent  mill? 

Mrs.  Gorum  :  Good  day  to  you,  Mr.  Bates.    That  is  good  corn. 

George  Gorum:  How  will  you  have  it,  John  Bates?  Will  you  wait 
for  the  grinding  or  will  you  exchange?  I  have  some  fine  corn 
here    ready   ground. 

John  Bates:   Whose  corn  is  it? 

George  Gorum  :  Nathan  Weed's,  most  of  it.  Some  maybe  of  Joshua 
Hoyt's. 

John  Bates:  Well,  I  do  not  know.  One  knows  his  own  corn.  I 
oversee  every  bit  of  the  work  on  my  farm  myself. 

George  Gorum  :  Yes,  John  Bates,  I  know  you  do.  Just  as  you  like. 
It's  good  corn,  new  ground,  grown  on  about  the  same  land  as 
yours. 

John  Bates:  Aye,  aye!  Weed  and  Hoyt,  you  say.  Alright!  It's 
good  Middlesex  corn.  I'll  take  it.  The  home  product  for  me. 
Then  you  know  what  you  are  getting.  I  may  want  to  exchange 
some  for  imported  stuffs.  Have  you  any  on  hand?  That  is  a 
comely  sacque  you  have  on,  Mistress  Gorum.  An  India  calico, 
I  doubt  not. 

Mrs.  Gorum  :   Aye,  Mr.  Bates,  a  simple  thing. 

John  Bates:  It  is  a  fine  quality.  My  wife  will  be  clamoring  for  one 
like  it.  It  is  great  opportunity  for  exchange  you  have,  George 
( iorum.  I  say  it  is  a  great  opportunty  you  have.  Captain  George 
Gorum.  And  through  you  we  have  a  wee  chance  now  and  again 
without  interference  from  the  British  Ministry.  It  is  a  public 
service  you — 

George  Gorum  :    Aye,  John  Bates,  you  have  said  so  before. 

John  Bates:  I  may  have  mentioned  it  before.  The  British  Ministry 
abuse  their  privilege  of  ofifice  to  extract  taxes  and  duties  from  us 
under  guise  of  statute,  meddling  with  free  commerce.  I  will  not 
stand  it  for  one.  I  am  English,  myself,  I  thank  God.  I  will 
fight  for  the  Union  Jack,  but  the  British  Ministry  must  not  meddle 
with  my  affairs  and  try  to  restrict  my  free  rights.  How  say  you, 
George  Gorum  ? 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  27 

George  Gorum  :   Aye,  aye.    That  is  what  we  all  believe  and  practice. 

Mrs.  Gorum:    Look,  look!     What  is  this?     French  prisoners. 

George  Gorum  :    If  they  stop,  see  to  their  wants. 

George  Gorum  goes  hurriedly  out.  From  the  wood-road  come 
a  party  of  British  soldiers  with  a  French  officer  as  prisoner,  on  horse- 
back. They  ride  down  to  the  mill.  George  Gorum  comes  back  quite 
calm. 

British  Officer  :    Good  day,  my  friends.     Good  da}^  to  you,  madam. 
Can  you  not  water  our  horses  for  us? 

George  Gorum  :  Gladly,  gladly.    Here,  boys.    Take  the  officers'  horses 
and  water  them. 

Mrs.  Gorum  :   And  will  you  not  have  some  refreshment  ?    Some  New- 
England  rum?     Or  some  tea,  some  Bohea? 

British   Officer  :    I  thank  you,  madam,  I   will  accept.     Monsieur, 
will  you  have  some  rum? 

French  Officer:   Merci,  monsieur.     Mes  compliments,  madame. 

The  officers  dismount.  Gorum's  men  lead  the  horses  in  back  to  be 
^vatered.  Some  of  the  others  of  the  escort  go  also.  One  or  two  re- 
main, and  Gorum's  men  bring  out  water  in  an  old  bucket  like  a  firkin 
for  the  horses.  Mrs.  Gorum  goes  into  the  house  and  comes  out  with 
a  jug  and  cups  from  which  she  pours  rum  for  the  officers. 

John  Bates:    Any  news  of  the  war?     Any  word  from  the  fleet  in 

the  West  Indies? 
British  Officer  :  None  since  the  taking  of  Jamaica. 
George  Gorum:    To  New  York? 

British  Officer:    Aye,  to  New  York,  for  an  exchange.     I  assure 
you,  madam,  we  thank  you  for  your  refreshing  hospitality. 

French  Officer  :  Merci  beaucoup,  madame  et  monsieur.  Votre  tres — 
British  Officer  :   Advance ! 

The  officers  mount.  The  escort  come  riding  out  again.  The 
party  ride  on  in  the  direction  of  Stamford  and  New  York.  Meal 
bags  are  loaded  on  Bates'  cart. 


28  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

George  Gorum  :  The  Frenchman  was  captured  up  the  Connecticut, 
near  Number  4.  or  somewhere.  Got  too  far  from  Canada  this 
time. 

Mrs.  Gorum  :  Not  often  we  see  soldiers  in  these  parts.  An  event 
to  be  remembered. 

John  Bates:  Aye,  aye,  these  are  quiet  times.  Little  happens  by  way 
of  excitement  except  the  weekly  sermons. 

Mrs.  Gorum  :    The  new  parson  is  a  fine  young  man. 

John  Bates:  Mr.  Mather  is  a  man  of  parts  and  of  scholarship.  He 
is  our  own!  In  my  opinion  he  is  to  be  compared  with  George 
Whitefield  himself ! 

George  Gorum  :  He  is  a  learned  preacher  and  makes  the  most  of  his 
chance.  But  if  things  were  not  so  dull,  think  what  he  could 
do  with  a  fair  sermon  of  decent  length  three  hours  or  more, 
as  they  used  to  be. 

John  Bates:  Quiet  times  let  us  build  up  our  homes  and  improve  our 
fortunes  and  give  us  chance  for  most  excitement  where  there  is 
most  danger,  in  the  next  world.  Now,  with  our  own  Middlesex 
church  we  can  consider  the  perils  of  hell  and  the  joys  of  redemp- 
tion in  comfort  at  home. 

Mrs.  (ioRi'M  :  Stamford  people  will  say  as  long  as  they  live  that  Mid- 
dlesex separated  from  the  Stamford  church  from  lack  of  zeal  for 
true  religion. 

John  Bates:  Aye,  they  will.  There's  my  meal.  Take  it  home. 
Good-day ! 

The  cart  is  driven  ofif  and  John  Bates  follows.  George  Gorum 
watches  until  Bates  is  gone.  Me  then  calls  his  men  to  see  to  the  un- 
loading of  a  ship. 

f  JEOKGE  GoRfM  :    Now,  signal  the  skipper  the  bring  the  stuff  ashore. 

Mrs.  Gorum  :    \\  by  did  you  wail  for  Mr.  Bates  to  go? 

George  Gorum  :  He's  alright,  I  doubt  not,  but  like  as  not  he  would 
have  wanted  to  illustrate  the  principles  of  colonial  self-govern- 
ment to  that   I>ritish  ofticcr  by  the  unloading  of  this  cargo. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  29 

Sailors  bring  boxes  and  bundles  of  cargo  up  along  the  shore  and 
carry  them  with  the  assistance  of  Gorum's  men  into  the  mill.  The 
skipper  directs  the  work.  Once  in  a  while  Gorum  stops  a  man  to  look 
at  a  chest  or  bale  of  goods. 

Sea  Captain:  What's  happening?  Anything  about  the  expedition 
to  Louisburg?  That  was  in  the  wind  when  last  I  was  in  Boston. 
Some  member  of  the  General  Court  prayed  too  loud  and  let  the 
cat  out  of  the  bag. 

George  Gorum  :  Oh,  we're  going  against  Louisburg.  That's  settled. 
Connecticut  and  New  Hampshire  are  joining  Massachusetts  on 
it.  Connecticut  is  to  have  the  second  place  in  command.  Roger 
Wolcott  is  to  be  major-general. 

Sea  Captain:    Any  going  from  here? 

George  Gorum  :  Yes,  quite  a  number  are  going  from  here  and  from 
Stamford.  Want  a  little  excitement;  want  a  change.  Try  a 
little  fighting  against  the  French.  They  don't  come  here  any  more, 
so  we'll  go  chase  the  rats  in  their  own  forts. 

Sea  Captain  :    Drilling  a  lot  nowadays,  then,  I  suppose. 

George  Gorum  :    Aye,  that  they  are.  every  week,  sometimes  oftener. 

Come  in,  Captain,  and  we'll  reckon  this  up  and  settle.     What  do 

you  want  this  trip?     I  have  fine  salt  meat  on  hand,  rum  a-plenty, 

and  wheat,  oats  and  corn. 
Sea  Captain:   Well,  let's  look  the  stufif  over. 

The  two  men  go  in.  Mrs.  Gorum  goes  in  with  her  husband. 
Gorum's  mill  hands  and  the  sailors  have  already  gone  in  with  the  last 
of  the  cargo. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  31 


INTERLUDE  I:    THE  CHANGING  TIDE 

The  Interlude  begins  with  smoothly-flowing  music,  ever  advanc- 
ing and  receding,  in  the  violins.  From  the  water  comes  the  Spirit 
of  the  Tide,  the  Changing  Tide,  periodically  changing  herself  and 
changing  all  things.  Her  color  is  chiefly  a  greenish  blue,  the  color  of 
shallow  sea-water.  Following  her  come  a  body  of  Water  Spirits 
flowing  up  over  the  shore  and  up  the  land  in  obedience  to  the  Tide. 
She  beckons,  lures,  guides  them  in  over  the  land.  In  front  flow  little 
ones  in  pale  green,  rippling  along  in  advance  of  the  larger  older  ones 
in  sea  blue,  with  here  and  there  for  the  deeper  water  a  touch  of 
sea  green.  The  Tide  leads  and  guides  them  in  over  the  lower  stretches 
and  on  up  the  slope,  herself  always  at  the  highest  point,  where  she 
triumphs  over  her  achievement  as  the  Water  Spirits  dance  in  homage 
before  her  and  about  her.  Then  almost  at  the  same  time,  come  from 
the  woods  at  the  back  and  from  among  the  trees  on  the  hill-side 
Forest  Spirits,  in  dark  greens  and  browns.  As  they  approach  the 
Tide  is  in  ecstasy,  joying  in  her  power  over  the  land  and  the  water. 

Then  from  her  triumph  she  turns  in  haughtiness  from  them,  bids 
them  all  begone,  sends  them  back  to  the  deeps  and  to  the  forests. 
Reluctantly  the  Water  Spirits  depart,  receding  as  they  had  come, 
she  remaining  alone  at  the  highest  point  of  her  rise.  The  Forest 
Spirits,  however,  do  not  retire  altogether,  but  only  into  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  whence  and  whither  through  the  interlude  they  come  and 
go.  At  last,  when  the  Water  Spirits  have  gone  quite  far,  the  Tide 
relents.  She  yearns  for  them,  and  as  they  vanish  she  stretches  forth 
her  arms  to  them  and  bids  them  return.  Again,  at  the  bidding  of 
the  Tide,  the  waters  return.  This  flowing  and  ebbing  of  the  tide 
continues  through  the  Interlude. 


Z2  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

The  next  time,  Indians  come  out  with  the  Forest  Spirits  and 
dominate  the  slope  of  the  land,  laughing  defiantly  as  the  water  washes 
up  about  them.  In  the  orchestra  Indian  music  weaves  in  with  the 
flowing  music  of  the  tide.  But  when  the  Tide  changes,  she  bids  the 
Indians  too  begone  and  they  too  have  to  depart,  wonderingly,  lament- 
ingly  going  down  the  hill  and  out  to  the  west. 

Next  Colonists  come  with  the  Forest  Spirits,  simple,  rugged  and 
self-reliant,  full  of  affairs,  devoted  to  Great  Britain,  whose  banner 
one  of  them  bears,  and  hostile  to  France,  one  of  whose  blue-uni- 
formed soldiers  they  have  as  a  prisoner.  The  music  brings  fleeting 
snatches  of  The  British  Grenadier.  But  they,  too,  pass  on,  with  the 
ebbing  of  their  flood-tide,  at  the  beck  of  the  Changeful  Spirit  that 
controls  the  waters  of   time. 

As  the  the  Colonists  depart,  Americans  of  the  Revolutionary 
and  Early  National  period  come  in  their  turn.  They  have  the  Ameri- 
can flag  in  its  earliest  form  among  them.  For  them  as  for  all  the  others, 
the  Forest  Spirits  form  a  framing  background.  Their  music  is  sug- 
gestive of  Yankee  Doodle  and  other  early  American  airs.  As  their 
tide  ebbs,  the  Spirit  of  the  Tide  goes  much  farther  down  toward  the 
shore  with  the  W'ater  Spirits  than  before. 

People  of  about  1830  are  the  next  to  come.  They  do  not  go  up  so 
far  towards  the  woods  as  the  others.  They  are  people  of  accustomed 
manner,  matter-of-fact,  and  even  a  bit  worldly  in  their  picturesque 
way.  They  are  quite  unconscious  of  the  Tide  that  has  called  them  on 
and  that  will  send  them  hence.  The  music  is  appropriate  to  the 
period,  somewhat  formal  and  sentimental.  Then  from  out  of  the 
woods  comes  a  single,  solitary  Indian.  He  comes  but  a  few  steps  out 
from  the  shelter  of  the  forest  and  stands  with  hands  uplifted  as  in 
communion  with  the  (ireat  Spirit.  He  ignores  or  does  not  see  the 
people  of  1830  below  him.  These,  startled,  some  of  them  frightened, 
draw  back  and  watch  him.  The  Indian  turns  to  the  north,  to  the  east, 
to  the  south,  and  then  to  the  west,  as  in  prayer,  singing  an  Indian  chant, 
at  first  low  and  then  rising  into  a  song  full  of  triumphant  pathos: 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  33 


THE    INDIAN'S   CHANT 

Oh  Father,  Great  Spirit,  Waukaumauw, 
Here  are  the  graves  of  my  fathers ! 
Here  in  these  forests  they  hunted. 
Brought  up  their  young  by  these  waters ! 
Here  is  the  home  of  my  fathers ! 
Here  dwell  their  spirits  forever. 
This  is  my  home.  Oh,  Great  Spirit, 
For  this  is  the  home  of  my  fathers ! 

Gone  are  they, — gone  from  these  forests. 
As  foot-prints  washed  out  by  the  waters 
As  red  and  brown  leaves  of  the  autumn ; 
And  gone  are  all  who  came  after. 
But  they  shall  return,  Oh  Great  Spirit ! 
Again  Thou  wilt  bring  back  Thy  children! 
They  shall  hunt  here  and  dwell  here  forever. 
For  this  is  the  home  of  my  fathers ! 

The  waters  advance.  Oh  Waukaumauw ! 
And  now  I  depart,  like  my  fathers, 
And  no  man  shall  know  where  I  go  to, 
Till  Thou,  Oh  Great  Father,  Waukaumauw, 
Call  me  back  to  the  Home  of  my  fathers ! 

The  Indian  turns,  plunges  into  the  woods  and  is  lost.  The  people 
of  1830,  still  gazing  in  amazement  and  awe  at  the  place  where  he  had 
been,  retire,  not  knowing  why,  out  the  same  way  the  others  had  gone. 
The  Forest  Spirits  retire  into  the  woods.  Again  for  the  last  time  the 
Tide  with  her  Water  Spirits  flows  up  over  an  empty  field  and  recedes 
out  to  the  sea  whence  she  came. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  35 


EPISODE  4:   THE  RAID  ON  THE  MIDDLESEX  CHURCH 

(1781) 

Several  row-boats  come  quietly  in  and  beach.  British  soldiers  and 
Tories  get  cautiously  out.  While  some  are  hiding  the  boats,  others 
make  a  reconnaisance,  first  Rowland  Slawson  and  some  of  the  Tories 
going  forward,  and  then  a  few  soldiers  under  Captain  Frost  joining 
them.  Daniel  Gorham  comes  sauntering  up  from  his  house  and  mill, 
surprising  a  British  soldier  and  himself  a  bit  taken  unaware. 

Soldier:  Hold  up  your  hands  and  be  silent,  or  I'll  blow  your  head 
ofiF. 

Daniel  Gorham  :     I'm  alright,  my  friend. 

Rowland  Slawson  :    He's  a  friend  and  to  be  trusted. 

Daniel  Gorham  (to  Captain  Frost,  who  comes  up)  :  The  rebels  will 
be  coming  to  church  soon, — to  pray  God  to  dismember  the  British 
empire,  to  loose  anarchy  among  the  colonies,  and  to  expose  us 
and  our  homes  to  the  French  and  Indians  again.  Damn  them ! 
Hide  back  there  in  the  swamp,  until  they  are  all  in  church  and 
you  will  bag  the  lot  without  any  trouble,  the  pestiferous  old  par- 
son and  all.  Property  would  be  safe  without  the  King's  power 
back  of  the  laws,  wouldn't  it? 

Capt.  Frost:    It's  not  long  till  they  come  for  the  afternoon  sermon? 

Daniel  Gorham  :  No.  You'll  hear  the  drum  summoning  them  soon. 
Wait  till  they  are  singing  a  hymn.  Then  you  can  come  up  and 
surround  the  church  without  being  heard.  Cocks  and  hens  !  You'll 
get  a  fine  flock  of  them !  You'll  pick  up  some  nice  horseflesh  too 
this  afternoon,  or  I'm  mistaken. — Well,  I'll  not  be  around. 

Daniel  Gorham  saunters  off  again  the  way  he  came.  Capt.  Frost 
beckons  his  men  back  to  the  boats  and  around  behind  the  point. 

Capt.  Frost  (to  a  sergeant  and  a  Tory)  :  Remind  all  the  men  not 
to  shoot  if  they  can  help  it.  Warn  them  that  three  shots  is  the 
general  alarm  here.     We  don't  want  the  whole  country-side  down 


36  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


upon  us.  (To  another  Tory.)  Here,  you,  get  up  in  there  some- 
where, damn  you,  and  tell  us  when  you  see  the  first  of  the  rebels 
coming.  Keep  where  I  can  see  you,  and  when  you  come  back, 
get  around  through  the  woods. 

The  man  designated  goes  up  on  the  rise  to  the  west  and  keeps  a 
sharp  look  out.  All  the  others  return  to  the  boats  and  disappear  around 
the  point.  Only  Capt.  Frost's  red  uniform  is  seen  once  in  a  while 
as  he  looks  up  over  the  bank  to  sign  to  the  Tory  look-out.  Finally 
the  Tory  points,  runs  down  across  to  the  woods,  plunges  in  and  emerges 
down  on  the  shore  near  the  boats.  He  speaks  to  Capt.  Frost  and  both 
disappear.  From  the  west  where  the  Tor}^  was  pointing  come  the 
people  of  Middlesex  parish  on  their  way  to  church.  The  first  carries 
a  drum,  which,  as  soon  as  he  reaches  the  wood-road,  he  begins  to 
beat.  Some  are  on  foot ;  some  are  on  horse-back ;  some  carry  their 
wives  or  daughters  a-pillion.     Some  also  come  from  other  directions. 

Gershom  Scofield:  Well,  Deacon,  the  British  have  been  keeping 
away  for  some  time  now  since  they  got  the  treasure  from  your 
house.     Three  months  now,  is  it? 

Deacon  Joseph  Mather:  Aye,  they'll  not  be  around  again  for  a  while. 
Major  Tallmadge  and  Ebenezer  Jones  with  his  Boat  Service  'have 
taught  them  a  lesson. 

Gershom  Scofield:     They  have  truly. 

Kliphalet  Sekly  :  I  am  not  so  sure.  I  have  been  sleeping  in  a  thicket 
of  bushes  below  my  garden,  so  they  should  not  take  me  if  they 
came  to  my  house  at  night. 

Deacon  Joseph  Mather:  Better  not  talk  so  loud.  No  telling  who 
might  not  have  Tory  inclinations  and  be  in  hearing. 

Gershom  Scofield:  The  Cow  Boys — I'd  like  to  see  them  extermin- 
ated. 

Mrs.  Joshua  Mokehou.se:  It  was  a  great  sermon  the  parson  gave 
us  this  morning! 

Eliphalet  Seelv:  The  boot-heel  did  famous  work  on  the  study 
floor  while  he  wrote  that  sermon,  I  warrant  you. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  17 


Gershom  Scofield:  And  he'll  give  us  another  sermon  like  it  this 
afternoon !     He's  a  staunch  champion  of  freedom  and  the  truth ! 

Mrs.  Joshua  Morehouse:  His  doctrine  is  soundly  based  on  the 
Scriptures  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Rev.   Moses  Mather  comes  in  with  his   wife  and  several  of  his 
children.     He  carries  his  Bible  under  his  arm.    As  he  passes  through, 
the  people  all  bow  to  him.     He  graciously  returns  the  salutations. 
Mrs.  Joshua  Morehouse:   Will  you  give  us  as  stirring  a  sermon  this 

evening  as  this  morning,  Mr.  Mather? 

Rev.  Moses  Mather:  I  know  not,  but  I  will  preach  the  Word  of 
the  Lord  as  I  understand  it.  The  text  this  afternoon  is  from 
Timothy,  "Quit  you  like  men ;  be  strong,"  and  again  from  He- 
brews, "And  so  much  the  more  as  ye  see  the  day  approaching." 

From  the  wood-road  comes  the  drummer  again.  He  stands  at 
the  edge  of  the  Avoods  and  beats  the  call  a  second  time.  Those  who 
have  horses  tie  them  at  the  wall,  and  all  go  through  the  road  to  the 
church.  Rowland  Slawson  is  seen  peeking  out  over  the  wall  to  see  if 
all  have  gone  in.  He  then  comes  out  affecting  a  careless  mein.  Capt. 
Frost  watches  him.  He  evidently  does  not  trust  him  completely,  and 
when  Slawson  is  going  too  near  to  the  church,  he  calls  and  beckons 
him  back.  He  then  summons  his  men.  Inside  the  church,  in  the 
woods,  the  congregation  are  heard  singing  the  hymn 

NORWALK 
By  Mather 

All  yesterday  is  gone! 

To-morrow's    not    our    own ; 
O  sinner,  come  without  delay 

To  bow  before  the  throne. 

(The  Ancient  Lyre,  p.  188) 

Capt.  Frost  gets  over  the  wall  cautiously  and  listens.  He  beckons 
his  men  to  follow.  They  jump  over  the  wall  and  run  after  him  up 
the  hill.  When  they  are  half  way  up,  Isaac  Richards  appears  at  the  end 
of  the  wood-road  and  shouts  back  a  warning.     He  himself  then  runs 


38  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


up  the  hill  and  escapes.  The  British  spread  out  to  surround  the  church 
and  go  into  the  woods,  leaving  a  soldier  on  guard  at  the  road.  The 
singing  of  the  hymn  stops  abruptly.  There  is  noise  of  great  con- 
fusion and  of  sharp  commands.  Two  young  men,  Nathan  Weed  and 
Noyes  Mather,  the  parson's  son,  dart  out  of  the  woods  trying  to  escape. 
A  Tory  is  in  pursuit.  The  British  soldier  on  guard  draws  his  gim  to 
his  shoulder  and  fires.  Young  Mather  drops  to  his  knees. 
Nathan  Weed:  Are  you  hit? 
Noyes  Mather:    In  the  heel.     But  I  can  run. 

He  gets  up  with  Weed's  assistance  and  they  disappear  into  the 
woods.     The  Tory  also  fires  a  pistol  without  success.     He  draws  an- 
other pistol  and  is  about  to  fire  again,  but  the  soldier  stops  him. 
Soldier  :    Hold  !    Three  shots  is  the  alarm. 

Some  of  the  Tories  and  a  few  of  the  soldiers  come  out  and 
begin  to  lead  oflF  the  horses  with  much  coarse  joking  over  the  fine 
prizes  that  have  fallen  into  their  hands.  From  the  wood-road  now 
come  the  British  with  their  prisoners.  Capt.  Frost  is  in  command. 
By  his  side  and  at  the  head  of  the  line  comes  the  Rev.  Moses  Mather, 
bare-headed,  his  hands  tied  with  rope  behind  his  back.  Capt.  Frost 
is  in  quite  jocular  mood  over  his  success  in  capturing  the  rebel  parson 
of  Middlesex.  The  men  of  the  congregation  are  marched  out  two  and 
two,  tied  together  with  cords  by  the  arms.  The  women  and  some  of 
the  children  are  trying  to  reach  their  husbands  and  fathers,  but  are 
roughly  kept  back  by  the  soldiers  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  One  of 
the  women,  Sally  Dibble,  is  wounded  and  her  dress  is  torn.  Capt. 
Frost  designates  three  soldiers  and  sends  them  back. 
Capt.  Fro.st  :    Go  back  and  see  if  anything  is  overlooked. 

They  return  to  make  their  search.  Capt.  Frost  marches  his  com- 
mand and  prisoners  down  to  the  shore,  where  some  of  them,  including 
the  Rev.  Moses  Mather,  are  put  into  boats  and  rowed  away,  while 
the  rest  with  the  horses  are  taken  farther  ofif  along  the  shore. 

Three  shots  are  heard  in  rapid  succession  in  the  woods,  the  noted 
signal  for  the  general  alarm.    The  three  British  soldiers  come  running 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  39 

out  of  the  wood-road.  There  is  a  fourth  shot.  One  of  the  soldiers 
drops.  The  other  two  run  down  to  the  shore  and  disappear.  The 
wounded  soldier  picks  himself  up  and  tries  to  follow.  He  cannot, 
so  tries  to  gain  temporary  cover  in  the  trees.  Daniel  Gorham  comes  out 
cautiously. 

Daniel  Gorham  :     Quick,  friend.     Get  down  to  my  mill  and  hide 
among  the  grain  bags.    I'll  see  that  you  are  safe. 

Danial  Gorham  helps  the  British  soldier  out  as  fast  as  he  can 
go  in  the  direction  of  the  mill.  They  have  hardly  disappeared  when 
a  number  of  Americans  come  running  out  of  the  wood-road  in  pur- 
suit of  the  British  and  Tories  and  their  prisoners.  They  run  down  to 
the  shore  and  ofif  in  the  direction  the  enemy  have  gone. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  41 


EPISODE  5:    THE  TOWN  OF  DARIEN 

(1820) 

Several  men  of  the  time  come  out  and  begin  to  pitch  horse-shoes, 
or  to  watch.  A  couple  of  old  men  bring  out  from  the  store  a  bench 
and-  stool  and  a  keg,  also  a  checker-board.  They  get  the  checker- 
board on  the  keg  between  them  and  begin  their  game.  A  market  man 
from  New  Canaan  drives  down  across  the  field.  His  wagon  is  loaded 
with  country  produce  and  a  pair  of  calves  are  led  behind. 
Market  Man:     Nothing  seen  of  the  packet  yet? 

Store  Man  :  Don't  know's  there  has.  Wind  seems  to  set  right  out 
in  the  Sound,  though.  It  ought  to  get  in  pretty  soon, — some  time 
this  afternoon  anyway. 

Market  Man  :  Anything  heard  about  the  Town  question  ?  Have 
they  settled  it  up  at  New  Haven  yet? 

Farmer:  Believe  they  have.  Thaddeus  Bell  was  up  there,  and  he 
sent  w'ord  they  voted  the  charter  to  the  town  and  he'll  be  along 
with  it  as  soon  as  it's  made  out. 

Market  Man:    What  you  going  to  call  it?    Bellville? 

Store  Man  :  No.  There  was  some  wanted  to  call  it  Bellville.  and 
some  that  wanted  to  call  it  after  another  family.  Isaac  Weed, 
captain  of  this  packet, — he's  been  down  on  the  coast  trade,  you 
know, — and  he  told  them  they  ought  to  call  it  Darien,  because 
it  was  a  small  neck  of  a  town  that  didn't  do  much  but  connect 
two  other  bigger  towns. 

Market  Man  (laughing)  :  Well,  well,  so  they're  going  to  call  it  after 
the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  eh? 

Farmer:  Guess  so,  Thaddeus  Bell,  he's  doing  more  about  it  than 
anyone  else,  and  he  says  that  would  be  a  pretty  good  name,  be- 
cause what  would  those  two  big  towns  do  without  this  little  one 
between  them  he  didn't  know. 


42  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Cheers  are  heard  up  in  the  direction  of  the  King's  Highway. 
Thaddeus  Bell  rides  in  on  horseback,  accompanied  by  other  people,  both 
men  and  women  on  foot.  He  is  travel-stained  and  bespattered  with 
mud.  The  people  waiting  for  the  packet  get  up  at  his  approach.  His 
wife  comes  forward  to  greet  him.  He  dismounts  and  greets  his  wife. 
Dr.  Warren  Percival  comes  in. 
Dr.  Percival  :    How  is  it,  Bell  ?    What  about  the  town  ? 

Thaddeus  Bell  :  Middlesex  is  now  a  town,  the  Town  of  Darien,  Con- 
necticut !     I  have  the  charter  in  my  saddle-bags. 

Cheers.  Other  people  come  in.  Thaddeus  Bell  hunts  in  his  sad- 
dle-bags and  produces  a  large  official-looking  document  which  he  holds 
up  for  all  to  see. 

Thaddeus  Bell  :  Here  is  the  charter !  It  is  dated  the  first  Wednesday 
in  May,  1820.  It  finds  that  the  facts  in  our  petition  to  the  General 
Assembly  are  true  and  grants  our  Prayer  to  be  incorporated  into 
a  separate  Town.  It  provides  for  the  first  Town-Meeting  as 
follows :  "The  first  Town  Meeting  in  said  Town  of  Darien  shall 
be  holden  at  the  Presbyterian  Meeting  House  in  said  Town  of 
Darien  on  the  second  Monday  in  June,  A.  D.  1820,  and  Thad- 
deus Bell,  Esq.  shall  be  Moderator  thereof  and  shall  warn  said 
meeting  by  setting  up  a  Notification  thereof  on  the  public  sign- 
post in  said  town  and  at  such  other  public  places  as  he  may  deem 
proper.      (Cheers.) 

Dr.  Percival  :  And  Thaddeus  Bell  shall  be  elected  the  first  Select  Man ! 

Others:   That  he  shall!     (Cheers.) 

Thaddeus  Bell  :  No,  I  will  not  accept  it.  I  have  done  what  I  have 
simply  for  the  benefit  of  my  neighbors  here  at  home,  not  with  any 
desire  for  public  office.    Even  if  elected,  I  shall  not  accept. 

Dr.  Percival:  Well,  John  Bell,  then.  We'll  have  someone  of  the 
family  on  the  first  Board  of  Select  Men. 

Another  Man  :  John  Weed  would  make  a  good  Select  Man,  too, — 
young  John. 

Others  :    Aye,  young  John  Weed,  we'll  vote  for  him. 

Third  Man:    And  Henry  Bates. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  43 


Market  Man:   Here  comes  the  packet!     (Cheers.) 

On  the  inlet  the  sloop  "Union"  moves  up  to  the  landing.  The 
skipper,  Captain  Isaac  Weed,  comes  ashore.  With  him  is  a  stranger. 
Renewed  cheers. 

Isaac  Weed:  Well,  neighbors,  quite  a  welcome.  What's  up?  I  have 
done  all  your  commissions,  and  report  the  "Union,"  of  Stamford, 
safe  in  port  at  Ring's  End  Landing! 

Crowd  :     No !     No !     Darien ! 

Thaddeus  Bell:  No  longer  the  "Union"  of  Stamford,  but  the 
"Union"  of  Darien !  Middlesex  is  now  an  independent  town  of 
Connecticut  under  the  name  of  Darien. 

Cheers  in  which  Captain  Weed  and  his  crew  join.  Captain  Weed 
takes  the  stranger  over  to  Thaddeus  Bell. 

Noah  Brown  :  Thaddeus  Bell !  I  should  know  you  anywhere.  Do 
you  remember  me?  I  lived  here  when  I  was  a  boy  of  15.  My 
name  is  Noah  Brown. 

Thaddeus  Bell:  Noah  Brown!  Well,  well!  Neighbors,  here  is 
one  of  our  old  boys  back  again  among  us,  Noah  Brown,  the  man 
who  built  Commodore  Perry's  victorious  fleet  in  Lake  Erie  seven 
years  ago.     (Cheers.) 

Isaac  Weed:  Mr.  Brown,  I  want  you  to  build  a  boat  for  me.  And 
neighbors,  I'll  call  it  the  Noah  Brown  of  Darien.  (Laughs  and 
cheers.) 

Thaddeus  Bell  :  Now  I  will  post  this  warning  for  the  meeting  here 
on  the  Landing. 

Thaddeus  Bell,  accompanied  by  Noah  Brown  and  a  few  others, 
go  out  to  post  the  warning  for  the  Town  Meeting. 

Isaac  Weed:  Get  the  goods  ashore,  men.  Here,  Jonas,  (to  the 
farmer)  here  is  the  money  for  your  hay,  $24. 

Farmer:    $24?    There  is  some  mistake. 

Isaac  Weed:    No.    You  had  just  two  tons.    I  got  $12  a  ton  for  you. 

Farmer:  $12  a  ton!  That  is  too  much !  Take  it  back.  It  would  not 
be  right  for  me  to  take  it.     Here ! 


44  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Isaac  \\'eed:  Why.  Jonas,  man,  of  course  it  is  right.  That  is  what 
hay  brings  now.  Besides  I  do  not  know  who  I  sold  it  to.  All 
I  know  is  I  sold  it  for  $24  and  the  money  is  yours. 

One  Man  :  Now  at  last  we  can  have  a  good  road  put  through  our 
town.     We  won't  be  at  the  mercy  of  the  people  of  Stamford. 

Another:  Quite  right!  The  town  ought  to  employ  a  man  to  work 
on  the  road  at  once.  He  should  be  expected  to  give  all  his  time 
to  it. 

One  Man  :    That  would  cost  a  good  deal  of  money, — all  his  time. 

Another:  That  makes  no  difference.  The  town  should  put  a  man 
with  team,  cart,  chain  and  everything  to  work  at  once.  I  shall 
move  it  in  the  first  Town  Meeting.  The  town  ought  to  pay  him 
$2  a  day.    It  should  vote  a  Highway  Tax  of  2c  on  the  dollar. 

One  Man  :  That  is  extravagance.  I  shall  vote  against  it.  All  his 
time  !    $2  a  day  ! 

Another:  He  supplies  his  team,  cart  and  everything  himself.  The 
town  will  vote  it,  too.     You  see. 

One  Man  :  Man,  $2  a  day.  Do  you  realize  that  would  be  $600  a 
year!  If  the  town  does  vote  it  this  3'ear,  it  will  not  next  year.  I 
will  see  to  that. 

Another:     It  will  the  year  after  then. 

One  Man:  We'll  see!  Such  extravagance.  Let  each  man  take  care 
of  his  own  road. 

A  small  boy  comes  down  with  an  ox-cart  loaded  with  straw.  It 
is  brought  down  to  the  landing  and  the  straw  is  put  aboard,  the  ox- 
team  turned  around  and  the  boy  started  off  again.  The  freight  taken 
off  consists  of  groceries,  dry  goods  and  hardware,  molasses,  sugar 
and  flour.  The  new  cargo  for  New  York  consists  of  country  produce, 
potatoes,  onions,  turnips,  hay,  straw,  calves  and  poultry.  Meantime 
Thaddeus  Bell  returns. 

A  poor  woman  goes  up  to  Thaddeus  Bell  anxiously  and  waits 
until  she  can  attract  his  attention. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  45 

Charity  Tubes:  Oh,  Mr.  Bell,  Mr.  Bell,  what  will  happen  to  us 
Town  Poor?  If  we  are  not  to  belong  to  Stamford  any  more,  who 
will  take  care  of  us? 

Mrs.  Bell  :    You'll  be  taken  care  of.  Charity. 

Thaddeus  Bell:  Do  not  give  yourself  any  worry  about  it,  Charity. 
The  Select  Men  of  Stamford  and  our  Select  Men,  as  soon  as  they 
are  elected,  will  meet  and  decide  which  ones  of  you  poor  people 
Stamford  shall  keep  and  which  ones  Darien  shall  take  care  of. 
You  will  be  alright.  Darien  must  have  its  share  of  the  Western 
Reserve  Fund,  too. 

One  Man:   How  much  will  that  amount  to.  Mr.  Bell? 

Thaddeus  Bell:  Darien's  share  would  probably  amount  to  as  much 
as  $3,000.  (Cheers.)  That  will  go  to  the  Darien  School  Fund. 
(Cheers.) 

Third  Man  :  Well,  one  improvement  we  need  is  to  put  some  restric- 
tion on  the  pigs.     They  root  everything  up. 

Fourth  Max  :  Yes,  I  do  not  know  but  there  should.  Wire  them ; 
that's  what  they  do  everywhere.  You  draw  up  the  words  for  it 
and  I  will  second  it  in  the  Town  Meeting. 

Third  Man  :  "Pigs  eight  weeks  old  well  wired  to  be  free  commoners," 
— that  is  all  you  need.       I'll  move  that  and  you  second  it. 

Old  Max:  You  ought  to  do  something  to  regulate  the  catching  of 
oysters,  too.  When  I  was  a  boy,  you  could  take  oysters  anywhere 
along  the  shore  here  a  foot  long.  Yes  sir,  and  lobsters — I've  seen 
lobsters  six  feet  long.  But  they  are  all  gone  now.  The  drags 
have  driven  them  away,  frightened  them. 

Isaac  Weed  :  All  aboard !  Any  passengers  for  New  York  ?  Any 
other  commissions?  All  aboard!  The  "Union"  of  Darien, 
(cheers)  Isaac  Weed,  Master,  for  Peck's  Slip,  New  York! 

The  sloop  moves  out  into  the  inlet  and  sails  for  the  Sound.  The 
people  go  off  with  their  groceries  or  other  goods,  their  teams  or  on 
foot.  The  market  man  from  New  Canaan  drives  off  with  his  return 
load.  Meantime  the  old  men  have  resumed  their  game  of  checkers 
and  the  younger  men  their  pitching  horse-shoes.  As  the  last  of  the 
people  are  leaving,  their  games  are  finished  and  they  get  up  and  go 
off  also. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  47 


EPISODE  6:    THE  COMING  OF  THE  RAILROAD 

(1849) 

The  Proprietor  of  Scofield's  Inn  and  a  traveler  with  his  luggage 
come  out  waiting  for  the  stage-coach.  The  stage-coach  comes  along 
the  wood-road,  horn  blowing  and  whip  cracking,  well  loaded  with  pas- 
sengers. 

Inn-keeper  :  Here  you  are !  Here  is  the  stage-coach.  You  might 
have  a  chance  to  go  by  the  first  railroad  train  if  you  care  to 
chance  it. 

Traveler:  No,  no  I  must  get  to  New  York  as  quick  as  I  can.  And 
I  want  to  get  back.  I  am  not  anxious  to  try  any  dangerous  experi- 
ments. 

Inn-keeper:  There  is  no  real  danger  going  by  the  railroad.  They  are 
reliable  and  prominent  people  back  of  it  putting  it  through. 

Traveler:    No,  sir,  I  have  heard  all  about  it.     That  bridge  at  Cos 
Cob — for  the  sake  of  going  through  by  Christmas  Day,  they  are 
going  to  risk  passing  over  that  bridge  before  it  is  more  than  half 
finished.    I  heard  about  it. 
The  stage-coach  drives  up.    A  few  people  get  out  and  look  around. 

Horses  are  changed.     A  few  people  come  to  take  the  stage  and  with 

the  other  traveler  see  the  driver  about  seats. 

Stage-driver:    Stage  for  Stamford!     Connects  by  the  new  arrange- 
ment with  the  Harlem  Railroad  at  White  Plains  for  New  York! 
Only  safe  way  to  New  York ! 
Nathaniel  Weed  comes  driving  in  at  a  fast  pace. 

Inn-keeper:    Got  the  stage  easily  this  time,  Mr.  Weed.    Never  missed 

it,  have  you? 
Nathaniel  Weed:     Never,  sir,  never!     Never  have  and  never  will, 

if  I  have  to  leave  the  horse  dead  on  the  road. 
Traveler:     Excuse  me  the  liberty  of  a  question,  sir!     You  make  a 

practise  of — 


48  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Nathaniel  Weed  :  Yes  sir.  For  years  and  years  I  have  gone  to  New 
York  every  other  day.  I  used  to  go  by  boat,  driving  down  to  catch 
the  steamer.  Then  lately  I  have  gone  to  White  Plains  and  taken 
the  railroad  train  there.  W'hen  the  railroad  goes  through  from 
here  I  shall  go  that  way. 

Inn-keeper:  They  say  the  railroad  train  is  to  go  through  for  the  first 
time  to-day,  Mr.  W'eed. 

Nathaniel  Weed  :  To-day !  To-day !  How  does  it  happen  I  did  not 
know  of  it.  I  will  go  by  train  to-day  then !  I  shall  not  want  my 
seat  with  you,  Lewis.  What  time  is  it  expected  the  train  will 
go  through  ? 

By-stander  :    I  heard  sometime  early  this  afternoon  was  probable. 

Traveler:  Really  I  doubt  the  feasibility  of  this  railroad.  It  cannot 
pay. 

Nathaniel  Weed  :  W^hy,  do  you  know,  sir,  the  Housatonic  Railroad 
increased  its  earnings  from  passengers  alone  this  year  nearly 
$1,400  over  last  year! 

Traveler:  Are  you  certain  that  the  figures  are  authentic?  Is  the 
source  of  your  information  incontrovertible? 

Nathaniel  Weed:  Yes,  sir!  Yes,  sir!  There  is  more  money  in  rail- 
roads than  in  any  opportunity  before  the  public  for  investment  at 
the  present  time. 

Traveler:    Not  more  than  in  gold  !    The  new  discoveries  in  California. 

Nathaniel  Weed:  I  mean  it  sir,  even  more,  far  more  than  in  gold. 
People  are  going  across  the  continent  without  number.  But  it  will 
cost  heavily,  though  much  good  may  come  of  the  movement.  But 
there  is  dire  suflfering  and  loss  in  store  for  most  of  them. 

Traveler:  You  think  so?  There  are  not  many  of  your  opinion.  You 
see  people  starting  out  for  the  gold-fields  every  day  in  wagon  and 
— anything. 

Nathaniel  Weed:  Yes,  sir,  that  is  my  opinion  as  a  banker.  There 
go  some  more  enthusiastic  folk  chasing  the  golden  gleam. 

A   wagon   fixed   up  as   a  prairie   wagon   passes   across   from   the 
wood-road  and  out  toward  the  west. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  49 

Stage-driver:  Now.  ladies  and  gentlemen!  All  aboard!  Stage  for 
Stamford !  Connects  for  White  Plains  and  New  York  by  rail- 
road! 

All  hurriedly  climb  into  the  stage  coach  or  up  on  top  of  it.  The 
driver  climbs  up  to  his  seat  and  whips  up  his  horses.  The  stage-coach 
goes  off  in  the  same  direction  that  the  prairie  wagon  had  gone. 

Nathaniel  Weed:  It  will  mean  everything  for  us  when  this  rail- 
road is  running  through  regularly  every  day, — three,  four  times 
every  day.  We  shall  then  practically  live  in  New  York,  so  far 
as  having  all  the  industrial  advantages  of  the  city  is  concerned. 
Darien,  Noroton,  Stamford,  will  all  become  cities  without  ceas- 
ing to  be  country  villages.  Work  in  the  city  with  home  in  the 
country.  That  is  what  I  have  always  been  determined  I  should 
have. 

Inn-keeper:  Yes,  sir.  You  have  spent  many  an  hour  traveling  back 
and  forth  to  New  York  all  your  life,  Mr.  Weed. 

Nathaniel  Weed  :  It  is  good  for  one.  The  jolting  along  the  roads 
is  good  for  the  circulation,  keeps  the  blood  moving,  sir. 

Inn-keeper :    You  think  we  can  hear  the  train  from  here,  Mr.  Weed? 

Nathaniel  Weed  :  Yes,  indeed  !  You  can  hear  it  from  here  easily 
enough.    The  whistle  of  a  railroad  locomotive  makes  a  great  noise. 

By-stander  :     Can  you  see  it  from  here  ? 

Nathaniel  Weed:  Well,  hardly.  It  goes  up  there,  about — Maybe 
you  might  see  it,  but  I  guess  not.  I  must  go  along  if  I  am  going 
to  catch  it.     There  it  is  now ! 

The  whistle  of  the  first  train  is  heard  up  the  inlet.  Mr.  Weed 
jumps  into  his  bugg>'  and  drives  off  as  fast  as  he  can  go  through  the 
wood-road.  There  is  great  excitement  among  all  the  by-standers.  who 
start  forward  and  gather  in  groups  trying  to  see  it. 

By-stander:     I  see  it!     I  see  it! 
Others:    Where?    Where? 


50  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


By-stander  :     There !     No, — no ! 

Another  By-stander:    I  am  going  to  the  station! 

Others  :     To  the  station  !     To  the  station  ! 

All  break  into  a  run  and  hurry  off  after  Mr.  Weed's  buggy  up  the 
wood-road  to  see  the  first  train  at  the  station. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  51 


INTERLUDE  II:   PRINCIPLE 

(1861-1865) 

From  the  two  sides  of  the  field  come  the  various  members  of  a 
family  of  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  the  grandparents,  young  people, 
children,  uncles  and  aunts  and  cousins,  about  twenty  in  all.  They  are 
engaged  in  the  pleasant  social  and  family  interests  of  the  time.  Be- 
hind them,  from  the  wood-road,  comes  the  austere  figure  of  Principle, 
clothed  in  a  long  cloak  of  purple  and  crimson  and  an  under  robe  of  blue, 
quiet  and  serious  in  manner.  She  bears  in  her  hand  a  palm  branch. 
She  approaches  the  pleasant  group  and  stands  silently  behind  them 
but  does  not  obtrude  herself  upon  them.  The  older  persons  realize 
her  presence,  but  the  young  people  and  the  children  are  entirely  un- 
conscious of  her.  The  music  is  suggestive  of  the  simple,  genial  life 
before  the  Civil  War,  whether  north  or  south. 

In  the  music  is  heard  the  forebodings  of  war,  the  rumble  of 
drums,  the  flashes  of  elemental  passions,  the  appeal  to  the  last  resort. 
The  face  of  Principle  becomes  stern.  Her  figure  seems  to  rise  to  its 
full  erect  height.  Intense  and  inflexible  she  listens.  In  the  music  is 
reflected  the  noise  of  battle,  the  peals  of  the  trumpets  calling  to  the 
charge,  the  clash  of  conflict,  and  the  boom  of  distant  cannon.  The 
family  becomes  quiet,  listening  impressed  with  the  awe  of  the  sounds, 
but  not  comprehending.  The  grandfather  points  to  the  figure  of  Prin- 
ciple. One  young  man,  and  then  one  or  two  others,  also  gaze  trans- 
fixed at  her  as  she  raises  her  arm  slowly  in  irrevocable  command.  She 
points  them  forth  to  go  to  war.  The  music  continues,  more  and  more 
blaring  forth  the  uncontrollable  furies  of  war.  The  whole  being  of 
Principle  through  every  nerve  and  drop  of  blood  responds  to  the 
music,  from  a  suppressed  intensity  of  excitement  working  up  to  a 
veritable  fanatic  frenzy  as  with  cruel  relentless  implacability  in  a 
pyrrhic  dance  of  tremendous  emotional  sweep  she  orders  the  young 


52  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

men  along  the  way  of  sacrifice  and  death.  The  mothers  and  young 
wives  implore  her  with  tears  and  on  their  knees  to  spare  them.  She 
is  inflexible.  Suddenly  rising  through  her  frenzy  to  the  still  inscruta- 
bility of  Fate,  motionless  she  points  the  young  men  forth.  As  if  fas- 
cinated in  an  unreasoning  loyality  to  her^  heroically  they  go  forth  the 
way  she  points.  The  women  sink  about  her,  their  hearts  wrung  but 
accepting  her  decrees.     The  older  men  bow  their  heads  in  resignation. 

The  battle  rages  in  the  music.  The  women  rise  from  their  knees 
and  listen  in  speechless  terror  to  the  sound.  Gradually  the  music 
quiets  down  to  the  dull  monotonous  boom  of  the  cannon,  which  changes 
into  a  dirge.  From  the  direction  whither  the  young  men  went,  come 
four  soldiers  bearing  on  a  stretcher  made  from  their  rifles  and  a 
military  overcoat,  the  body  of  a  soldier.  Slowly  they  carry  him 
up  before  the  family  group,  or  what  remains  of  the  family,  and  be- 
fore the  statue-like  figure  of  Principle.  The  family  kneel.  As  the 
soldiers  are  carrying  the  dead  by  her,  she  puts  forth  a  hand  and  stops 
them.  She  lays  her  palm-branch  upon  the  breast  of  the  soldier  and 
raises  her  hand  in  blessing  over  him.  The  soldiers  carry  their  burden 
out   at   the  other   side. 

The  mother  of  the  dead  and  the  other  young  women  of  the  family 
on  their  knees  are  crushed  with  grief.  In  her  distress  the  mother  feels 
the  strong  but  tender  hand  of  Principle  on  her  shoulder.  With  utter 
tenderness  she  lifts  the  mother  up  and  comforts  her.  She  calls  to  her 
the  little  wondering  children,  caresses  them,  and  calls  the  attention  of 
the  mother  and  of  the  other  women  to  them  and  fixes  their  sorrow- 
ing minds  on  them  and  on  the  future.  Then  placing  the  hand  of  the 
mother  in  that  of  her  husband  she  points  them  forth  upon  their  way. 
and  the  others  of  the  family  with  them,  in  the  opposite  direction  from 
that  whither  the  soldiers  have  gone.  Standing  alone  she  watches 
them  depart,  until  just  before  they  disappear  she  stretches  forth  her 
hand  in  tenderest  sympathy  toward  them.  Then  she  turns  and  directly 
disappears  into  the  woods. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  53 


EPISODE  7:   JUST  HOME 

(1885) 

An  old  lady  comes  walking  in  with  her  son,  a  young  man  of  about 
twenty-eight,  alert  and  sturdy. 

Richard:  Now,  mother,  you  talk  to  father,  won't  you,  and  make 
him  feel  alright  about  my  going  to  New  York,  instead  of  keeping 
on  with  the  place? 

Mother:  Well,  Richard,  I  will  see  what  I  can  do.  I  suppose  you 
must  go  your  own  way.     But  it  will  be  very  hard  for  your  father. 

Richard  :  Why,  no  it  won't,  mother.  I  shall  be  making  lots  of  money 
very  soon  in  this,  and  Edward  and  I  will  always  do  everything 
to  make  you  and  father — more  than  comfortable.    You  know  that. 

Mother  :  Yes,  Richard,  I  know  that,  dear !  That  is  not  what  I  meant. 
But  your  father  has  struggled  hard  and  long, — with  his  wound 
in  the  Civil  War  and  all, — to  keep  this  place  together  so  he  could 
hand  it  on  to  you  boys. 

Richard:     But  we  can  do  better,  going  to  the  city. 

Mother  :  Ours  is  an  old  family,  one  of  the  oldest  in  Darien,  and  this 
place  has  been  in  the  family  straight  through  from  the  first  for 
over  200  years.  To  your  father  the  living  people  of  a  family  are 
sort  of  trustees  for  the  other  generations,  and  it  is  a  sacred  trust 
from  the  past  to  hand  on  the  old  family  home  undiminished  to 
the  future  generations.  Here  are  the  family  graves  for  years 
and  years  back.  Here  your  father  hopes  the  family  name  will 
continue  forever.    Don't  you  understand? 

Richard:    Yes,  mother,  but — 

Mother  :  If  you  could  only  wait  a  while,  until  your  father  and  I  have 
passed  on,  you  could  do  as  you  like. 

The  father  and  older  son,  Edward,  are  seen  coming.     The  father 
is  quite  old  and  walks  heavily  on  a  cane. 


54  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Richard:  But  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  that,  mother  dear.  I 
do  not  want  to  be  a  farmer.  What  else  could  I  do  on  this  big 
place?    I  want  to  be  getting  a  start,  and — I  want  to  get  married. 

Mother:  Yes,  my  boy,  I  know  you  do,  dear;  and  I  want  you  to.  The 
old  must  make  way  for  the  young. 

Richard:    Don't  put  it  that  way,  mother! 

Mother:  No,  I  did  not  mean  that.  Let  me  put  it  this  way:  the  old 
must  help  the  young  to  make  their  way. 

As  the  father  and  Edward  come  up,  a  carriage  drives  up  in  which 
are  a  lady  and  gentleman  with  two  children.  They  are  well  dressed, 
elegantly  but  simply,  and  are  kindly  and  gracious  in  manner. 

New  Yorker:  Can  you  tell  me  where  I  will  find  the  place  of  Mr. 
Livingston  Brown? 

Father:     He's  the  man  that  bought  the  old  Denton  place,  isn't  he? 

New  Yorker:  I  do  not  know  about  that.     He  moved  out  here  only 
a  short  time  ago. 

Father:  Yes,  he  bought  the  old  Denton  place.  You  go  down  there 
across  the  bridge  and  turn  to  the  right. 

New  Yorker:    About  how  far  is  it? 

Father  :    Oh,  only  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

New  Yorker:    Thank  you,  sir. 

Father  :     You're  very  welcome. 

They  drive  on,  but  stop  a  short  ways  along  and  consult  with  each 
other,  evidently  considering  if  these  be  not  the  people  of  whom  they 
have  heard. 

Father  :  Well,  Richard,  Edward  tells  me  you  are  bent  upon  following 
him  to  New  York.  I  had  hoped  it  was  only  a  passing  fancy,  as 
is  natural  with  young  men, — I  have  been  young  myself.  All  I 
can  say  is  I  am  keenly  disappointed.  I  had  thought  I  could  count 
on  you.  Edward  went.  What  we  can  do — to  take  care  of  the 
old  place — I  do  not  know. 

The  New  York  people  turn  around  and  drive  back  to  them. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  55 

New  Yorker  :  You  do  not  happen  to  know  of  anyone  here  who  wants 
to  sell  his  place,  do  you? 

Father  :    No,  I  do  not. 

New  Yorker:  We  were  looking  for  a  place  in  the  country  and  Mr. 
Brown  told  me  there  was  a  place  near  his  that  he  had  heard  maybe 
the  people  might  sell. 

The  sons  look  at  each  other  significantly. 

Father  :    No,  I  do  not. 

The  Wife  of  the  New  Yorker  :  It  was  just  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  Mr.  Brown's,  he  said.    That  is  why  we  thought — 

The  father  is  resolute  in  his  attitude.  The  sons  cannot  say  any 
thing.  That  something  is  the  matter  is  evident.  It  is  rather  embar- 
rassing all  around. 

The  Wife  of  the  New  Yorker  :    Would  we  not  better  go  on,  Henry? 
New  Yorker  :   Well — I  did  not  want  to  bother  you — I  thank  you,  sir. 
Mother:   John,  it  is  our  place  they  have  heard  about. 
Father  :    Maybe  it  is. 

The  people  linger. 
New  Yorker:    If  I  am  not  intruding, — would  you  consider — 

The  father  stands  motionless  and  wordless. 

Mother:  We  might  as  well  face  the  situation,  John.  Make  an  ap- 
pointment to  talk  with  him  at  least. 

Father:     It  is  not  your  family,  Martha;  that  is  why — 

Mother:    John,  John,  you  do  not  mean  that! 

Father:     No,  Martha,  I  do  not. 

Silence.  The  father  turns  to  the  New  Yorker  as  if  to  speak,  but 
says  nothing.  The  wife  of  the  New  Yorker  tries  to  relieve  the  situa- 
tion by  turning  to  talk  to  the  mother. 

The  Wife  of  the  New  Yorker  :    It  is  a  very  beautiful  place  you  have 

here.    You  must  be  very  fond  of  it. 
Mother  :   Yes,  we  are.    It  has  been  in  the  family  for  over  200  years. 


56  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

The  Wife  of  the  New  Yorker:    Isn't  that  interesting! 

Father:  I  will  consider — it.  I  will  talk  w^ith  you  about  it, — or  my 
son  will, — another  day. 

New  Yorker  :  Very  well  sir,  any  time  that  would  be  convenient  to 
you  I  shall  be  glad  to  take  the  matter  up  with  you,  either  here  or 
in  New  York. 

The  Wife  of  the  New  Yorker:  Oh,  we  should  be  so  delighted  if 
we  could  have  the  place!  (Her  husband  nudges  her) — rent  it 
from  you  for  a  few  years,  or  something.  We  should  appreciate 
all  the  old  associations,  I  assure  you.  It  is  charming,  the  view 
over  the  water,  and  all.  The  Browns  have  told  us  a  good  deal 
about  the  beauty  of  the  location.  I  should  just  love  to  put  a  per- 
gola on  the  end  toward  the  water.  Don't  you  think  it  would  be 
lovely,  Mrs. I  do  not  know  your  name. 

Mother:     Well,  we  like  it  as  it  is,  naturally. 

The  mother  has  during  these  remarks  assented  with  kindly  smiles. 
Edw^ard  meantime  has  been  talking  with  the  New-  Yorker.  The  father 
stands  absorbed  in  contemplation. 

New  Yorker:  Well,  Sallie, — we  will  go  on.  Here  is  my  card.  (Giv- 
ing card  to  Edward,  who  gives  his  in  return.)  Good-day,  sir! 
Good-day ! 

Others  :    Good-day ! 

The  New  Yorkers  drive  ahead  and  out  toward  the  bridge.  There 
is  quiet  for  some  moments.  The  mother  stretches  out  her  hand  to 
her  husband. 

Mother:  Every  generation  in  a  family  the  blood  is  half  of  it  new, 
John.  And  every  generation  there  are  new  interests  and  new  di- 
rections in  the  family  life. 

Father:     Yes. 

Mother:  There  are  not  many  families  that  stay  so  long,  father  and 
son,  in  one  place  as  your  family  has,  John,  and  these  are  days 
of  change. 

Father  :    The  more  reason  why  the  few  old  families  should  hold  on. 
The  old  families  are  the  conservative  back-bone  of  the  nation. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  57 


Mother:  Yes,  yes.  But,  John,  there  were  some  who  thought  we  were 
uprooting  all  the  traditions  of  the  past  when  we  were  married 
and  started  out  in  our  own  way,  even  if  we  did  not  want  to  move 
away  from  the  old  place.    And  you,  John, — you — 

Father  :  Yes,  I  insisted  on  changing  the  shipping  of  all  the  farm  prod- 
uce from  the  packet  boats  to  the  railroad. 

Mother  :  Yes.  John,  you  were  a  red  flagged  radical.  And  you  would 
have  your  way. 

Father  :  But  that  was  the  simplest  common  sense.  It  is  absurd.  The 
event  has  proven — business  must  follow  business. 

Mother:  Yes,  John,  and  our  boys  must  follow  business.  And  we 
must  start  out  afresh  with  them,  even  if  our  bones  are  a  little  stiff. 

Father  :    Martha,  you  always  do  as  you  please  with  me ! 

Mother:    And  am  I  wrong? 

Father:    Edward,  you  see  what  we  would  best  do.     You  arrange  it. 

Edward:     Alright,  Father. 

Richard  :  And  we  will  build  a  new  house  nearer  the  village  for  you 
two  old  dears.  Edward  and  his  family  will  move  out  from  the 
city.  He  and  I  will  commute.  And  we  will  have  our  three  homes 
near  together.  Everything  will  be  just  as  beautiful  and  comfort- 
able as  it  can  be  made.  You  will  be  much  more  comfortable, 
after  you  are  once  used  to  it,  and- — 

Mother  :  Yes,  dear,  I  know.  It  will  be  very  nice,  but  do  not  say  any- 
thing more  about  it  now.  (With  a  motion  of  her  head  toward  her 
husband.)  You  see,  to  your  father  and  me  it  is  not  altogether 
old  by-gone  traditions.     To  us  the  old  place  is — just  home. 

Richard  bows  his  head  and  is  quiet.  The  mother  goes  over  to 
her  husband  and  together  the  old  people  walk  out,  Edward  and  Richard 
following  them. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  59 


EPISODE  8:    A  PLACE  IN  THE  COUNTRY 

(1900) 

A  voice  is  heard  over  the  hill  calling  "Fore!"  A  golf  ball  drops 
on  the  grounds.  Another  voice  is  heard  calling  "Fore !"  and  another 
ball  drops  on  the  grounds.  Soon  after  some  golfers  come  following 
their  ball ;  and  some  friends  watching  their  game. 

First  Golfer  :    You  have  to  get  pretty  well  up  the  hill  here  for  a  good 
lie  to  make  the  next  shot. 

Second  Golfer  :    Well,  let's  see  what  you  can  do.    Fore ! 

They  play  ofif  across  the  field  and  go  off  in  that  direction.  Other 
groups  of  golfers  follow  at  intervals.  A  group  of  young  people  come 
in  on  their  way  to  play  tennis.  Then  another  group  go  through  on  their 
way  swimming.  They  call  to  some  of  the  tennis-players  to  come  on 
and  go  swimming  with  them. 
Swimmer:     Come  on,  come  on  and  go  swimming!     The  tide  is  just 

right ! 

Watcher:     I  haven't  my  bathing  suit. 

Swimmer:    Never  mind.    I  have  another  in  the  bathing-house. 

They  all  go  on  up  through  the  wood-road  and  soon  after  emerge 
out  in  the  water,  with  a  row-boat,  from  which  they  dive,  and  which 
they  upset  and  right  again. 

An  artist  comes  in  with  his  canvas  and  easel,  which  he  sets  up 
and  gets  down  to  painting.  The  others  do  not  disturb  him  and  he  works 
away  for  some  time. 

Among  those  who  were  following  the  golf  and  who  have  lingered 
to  watch  others  are  a  twenty-four-hour  New  Yorker  and  his  Darien 
friend. 
New  York  Man  :    This  is  mighty  nice,  all  this.     I  wish  I  could  live 

out  here.    But  I  could  not  be  away  from  my  business. 


60  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Mr.  Country  Towne:    Why  not? 

New  York  Man  :  Why,  my  dear  fellow,  I  do  not  know  what  might 
happen.     I  must  be  in  touch  with  the  office  all  the  time. 

Mr.  Country  Towne:  Good  deal  better  if  you  got  away  from  it  all, 
once  in  a  while ;  better  for  your  work  and  better  for  you.  And 
what  about  your  wife  and  children? 

New  York  Man  :  Oh.  we  have  a  very  nice  governess  for  the  little 
girl,  and  a  tutor  for  the  boy.     He's   a  splendid   fellow,   really. 

He  takes  Bob  around  everywhere. 

Mr.  Country  Towxe:  But,  good  Heavens,  what  child  wants  a  gov- 
erness or  a  tutor  tagging  around  with  them  everywhere !  Did 
you  when  you  were  a  kid? 

New  York  Man  :  Well,  maybe  there  is  something  in  that.  Mary 
wants  to  come  out  into  the  country  somewhere,  and  so  do  I. 
And  I  am  going  to  when  I  am  doing  a  little  better. — Say,  that  was 
a  corking  play ! 

Mr.  Country  Towne  :    He's  some  golfer  on  his  approaches ! 

New  York  Man:  And  there's  another!  (The  wife  of  the  Darien 
man,  who  comes  across  the  grounds.)  Oh,  there  is  Mrs.  Towne! 
How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  Towne ! 

Mrs.  Country  Towne:   How  do  you  do!     I  am  so  glad  to  see  you! 

Mr.  Country  Towne:  I  tell,  him,  Bessie,  he  ought  to  come  out  here 
to  live. 

Mrs.  Country  Towne:   Yes,  indeed. 

New  York  Man  :  I  wish  we  could !  But  my  work  is  very  exacting. 
We  are  looking  forward  to  having  a  place  in  the  country  sometime. 

Mrs.  Country  Towne:  You  must  come.  You  would  find  Darien 
very  delightful.     We  all  do. 

New  York  Man  :  I  am  sure  we  should.  But  I  have  to  keep  in  touch 
with  the  office  every  minute. 

Mrs.  Country  Towne  :   That  is  what  the  men  all  say ! 

New  York  Man  :   Really !    I  have  not  had  a  vacation  for  three  years. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  61 

Mr.  Country  Towne:  And  if  you  had  a  vacation,  my  dear  fellow, 
you  would  not  know  what  to  do  with  it.  You  ought  to  come 
out  here  and  learn  how  to  rest, — regularly  every  night.  Then 
you  could  keep  up  without  working  entirely  on  your  nerves. 
Your  employees  do.  When  they  leave  the  office,  they  forget  it, 
and  come  back  fresh  in  the  morning. 

New  York  Man  :   Yes,  yes.  but  I  have  the  responsibility  and  cannot — 

Mr.  Country  Towne:  Of  course  you  cannot,  as  long  as  you  stay  in 
the  city.    You  must  break  away. 

Mrs.   Country   Towne:    More  than   half   of   the  people  here   have 

done  just  that,  and  were  at  first  as  strongly  convinced  as  you 

that  it  was  entirely   impossible.     Look  at  us.  Do  we  not  look 
care-free  and  well? 

New  York  Man  :    You  surely  do ! 

Mrs.  Country  Towne  :  We  have  all  been  in  the  same  Slough  of 
Despond.  But  now  we  have  attained  to  the  Celestial — Country. 
Really,  Darien  is  a  veritable  place  of  rest  and  strength.  Look 
at  those  children  playing  in  the  water!  Your  children  ought  to 
be  among  them ! 

A  man  on  a  horse,  dragging  an  anise-seed  bag,  comes  trotting 
down  over  the  hill,  crosses  the  grounds  and  goes  down  to  the  inlet, 
where  he  drags  the  bag  in  the  water  to  lose  the  trail. 

New  York  Man:   What's  this?    A  hunt? 

Mr.  Country  Towne:    Yes,  the  Darien  Hunt  have  a  run  this  after- 
noon, I  believe. 
Mrs.  Country  Towne  :    It  is  such  good  fun ! 

New  York  Man:    Do  you  ride? 

Mrs.  Country  Towne:    Oh,  yes,  though  I  am  not  riding  this  after- 
noon.    That  is  something  I  have  picked  up  since  we  came  out 
here. 
A  small  motor-boat  speeds  up  the  inlet,  circles  around  and  comes 

back. 

New  York  Man  :   That  is  a  fine  little  boat ! 


62  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 


Mr.  Country  Towne  :  Yes,  that  is  Franklin  Jones' !  He  lias  a  lot 
of  fun  with  it.  Very  fast  and  takes  but  very  little  water ;  goes 
anywhere,  up  a  dry  brook  almost.  A  number  of  people  have 
sail-boats  but  is  too  shallow  for  them  to  come  up  as  high  as  this, 
of  course. 

Mrs.  Country  Towne:    Here  they  come! 

The  fox-hounds  are  heard  baying  over  the  hill.  Every  one  gets 
ready  to  watch  them.  Over  the  hill  through  the  woods  they  come  on 
the  scent.  After  them  comes  the  hunt,  in  riding  dress,  red  jackets 
and  all.  The  hounds  lose  the  trail  at  the  water  and  hunt  around 
for  it.  They  are  coupled  up  and  led  off  for  a  new  cast,  the  people, 
both  those  on  horseback  and  the  others  going  off  all  together.  The 
New  York  Man  is  jubilantly  enthusiastic. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  63 


INTERLUDE  III:  THE  COMMUTERS 

It  is  morning-,  about  seven  or  eight  o'clock.  The  train  is 
heard  coming  around  the  bend,  the  whistle  blowing  and  the  bell 
ringing.  In  the  fresh  crisp  country  air  all  is  hurry  and  bustle. 
From  either  side  of  the  field  come  running  several  men,  with 
here  and  there  a  young  woman,  all  running  for  the  wood-road, 
which  leads  to  the  railroad  station.  Some  of  the  men  are  putting 
on  their  coats  or  overcoats  as  they  run.  One  stops  just  as  he 
starts  across  the  field  to  finish  a  cup  of  coffee,  handing  the  cup 
back  to  his  wife  as  he  sprints  ahead.  Another  hurriedly  kisses 
his  three  half-dressed  children  and  his  wife,  drops  his  bag  in 
doing  so,  picks  it  up  and  goes  ahead.  A  young  woman  drops  a 
parcel  of  books  as  she  runs ;  they  fly  in  all  directions  and  she  has 
to  stop  to  pick  them  up,  others  dodging  around  her  or  jumping 
over  the  books  as  they  pass  her.  A  third  man  gets  half  way 
across  the  field,  stops  suddenly,  feels  through  his  pockets  franti- 
cally, runs  back  shouting  "I've  forgot  something,"  disappears 
whence  he  came  and  in  a  minute  comes  out  again  on  a  straight- 
away with  no  stops.  Still  another  man  is  well  underway  when 
his  wife  calls  after  him  that  he  has  not  kissed  her  good-bye ;  he 
shouts  back,  "I  must  catch  this  train,"  but  he  comes  back.  As  he 
starts  off  again,  she  adds,  "Now,  remember  to  bring  those  things !" 
He  ties  a  knot  in  his  handkerchief  and  starts  off  once  more. 

The  locomotive  gives  a  whistle.  From  one  side  comes  a  horse 
in  a  single-seated  rig  on  the  run,  from  which  a  man  jumps  as 
soon  as  they  reach  the  road.  The  man  instantly  disappears  into 
the  wood-road  and  the  horse  is  driven  off  at  a  more  reasonable 
pace.  From  the  other  side  comes  tearing  an  automobile.  From  it 
a  man  jumps  and  disappears,  even  before  it  has  a  chance  to  stop, 
as  the  engine  whistle  blows  again  and  the  train  is  heard  going  off. 
At  the  last  moment  a  man  comes  rushing  out  and  off  at  full  speed 


64  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

in  a  desperate  effort  to  catch  the  train,  his  vest  unbuttoned,  his 
bag  and  hat  in  one  hand,  his  coat,  collar  and  tie  in  the  other. 

All  is  quiet  and  humdrum  for  the  day.  The  matutinal  excite- 
ment is  past.  The  women  and  children  at  their  doorways  take 
up  the  placid  round  of  the  day.  One  young  boy  brings  out  a  lawn 
mower  and  starts  to  cut  the  grass.  Two  women  chat  together, 
one  of  them  stepping  inside  now  and  then  as  she  wipes  the  break- 
fast dishes.  Some  of  the  children  start  off  together  with  straps 
of  books  to  school.  A  young  girl  is  heard  playing  exercises  on 
the  piano,  and  then  blended  with  the  exercise  is  heard  a  popular 
song  screeched  forth  by  a  throaty  phonograph.  The  fish  man  or 
the  market  man  comes  along  with  his  wagon,  sells  something  for 
dinner  and  drives  on.  The  day  is  sunny  and  uneventful  mostly, 
unless  a  bee  drones  along;  and  it  is  rather  warm.  Later  several 
young  people  pass  along  with  tennis  rackets  and  balls,  and  a  few 
small  boys  going  for  a  game  of  base-ball,  peace  in  their  discussion 
being  more  subtle  than  evident. 

An  engine  whistle  blows.  From  the  station  comes  a  solitary 
man  with  a  bag  of  golf  clubs.  He  puts  down  his  clubs,  makes 
his  little  tee  off  up  there  across  the  field  by  himself,  and  starts 
his  little  game  of  golf.  Home  early!  The  single  rig  and  the  au- 
tomobile drive  up  and  wait  one  on  either  side  of  the  wood-road. 

The  locomotive  whistle  is  heard  again  at  a  distance,  and  the 
noise  of  the  returning  evening  train.  It  is  six  or  seven  o'clock 
p.  m.  The  whistle  and  the  ringing  of  the  bell  comes  nearer  and 
nearer  and  then  stops.  Out  from  the  wood-road  on  their  way  home 
from  the  station  comes  the  procession  of  commuters.  They  are  tired, 
most  of  them.  Their  step  is  not  fast,  but  habitually  regular.  They  are 
loaded  with  bundles  of  all  kinds  and  sizes.  Many  of  them  are  smoking. 
One  of  a  more  cheery  group  drops  a  pack  of  cards,  which  he  picks 
up  and  puts  into  his  overcoat  pocket.  Out  a  little  ways  into  the 
field  the  commuters  diverge,  each  one  going  down  to  one  side  or  the 
other  to  his  own  home.  Their  wives  and  children  are  waiting  for 
them.     One  man  calls  out  to  his  wife  to  ask  if  supper  is  ready ;  he  is 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  65 

hungry.  The  wife  of  the  man  who  was  commissioned  to  remember 
certain  errands  hails  him  from  afar  with  the  query,  "Henry,  did  you 
get  those  things?"  He  drops  all  his  remembered  bundles  in  distress 
as  he  replies,  "No,  dear,  I  forgot ;  I  have  been  exceedingly  busy  all  day. 
I  am  awfully  sorry."  "Well,  I  think  if  you  love  me,  you  might  re- 
member one  little  thing  I  ask  you  to  do. — Well,  never  mind."  He 
picks  up  his  bundles  and  follows  her  miserably  into  the  house.  An- 
other woman  calls  to  her  wearied  spouse  to  hurry,  they  have  just  time 
to  get  a  bite  before  they  take  the  train  in  town  to  go  to  the  theatre. 
The  question,  "Did  you  bring  a  paper?"  is  heard  more  than  once. 
The  man  of  the  three  children  is  greeted  with  wild  delight  by  them 
all  with  cries  of,  "Here's  father!  Here's  papa!"  as  they  run  out  to 
meet  him  in  pajamas  and  nighties,  and  "What  have  you  got  in  there?" 
"Oh,  just  things  for  the  house."  He  puts  down  his  bundles,  picks 
each  one  up,  kisses  them  in  turn,  and  says,  "Now  run  off  to  bed. 
Scamper!"  "Can't  we  stay  up  a  little  while?  We  never  see  father 
at  all."  "No,"  endorses  the  mother,  "run  off  to  bed.  It  is  late.  It 
is  time  you  were  asleep  long  ago."  In  they  go,  and  the  father  wearily, 
but  with  a  sigh  of  content  at  being  home  again,  goes  in  after  them. 
The  train  whistle  and  bell  are  heard  and  the  noise  of  the  train  de- 
parting farther  and  farther  away,  until  all  is  still,  and  all  the  com- 
muters are  at  home.    It  is  night. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  67 


EPISODE  9:    THE  NEW  DARIEN 

(1915) 

A  man  and  his  wife  come  in  and  look  around.     They  have  with 
them  a  little  light  luggage. 
Mr.  Newcome:   I  wonder  if  this  is  the  place. 

Mrs.  Newcome:  It  looks  like  it,  from  what  the  station  agent  told  us. 
It  must  be  here. 

A   lady,    a    resident   of    Darien    and   member  of    the    Women's 
Civic  League,  conies  in.     Her  daughter  is  with  her. 

Mrs.  Newcome:    Can  you  tell  us  if  this  is  where  the  folk  dances  are 

to  be? 
Mrs.  Darien  :  Yes,  this  is  the  place.    In  a  very  short  time  now. 

Mrs.  Newcome:    Is  the  public  admitted?    May  we  stay  to  see  them? 
Mrs.  Darien  :    Certainly ;  we  shall  be  very  glad  to  have  you. 

Two  gentlemen,  the  husband  and  son  of  the  Darien  lady  come 
in.     They  greet  them  and  also  the  Newcomes. 

Mr.  Darien:  Well,  all  ready?  Good  afternoon.  You  are  interested 
in  folk-dancing? 

Mr.  Newcome:    Why,  yes,  in  a  way;  but  more  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Darien  :   Indeed !    You  know  Darien,  then  ? 

Mr.  Newcome:  No.  We  have  neither  of  us  ever  been  here  before 
to-day.     But  it  struck  us  as  such  an  extraordinary  town. 

Mr.  Darien  :   Why  so  ? 

Mrs.  Darien:   That  is  curious.    Do  tell  us. 

Mr.  Newcome:  Why,  we  were  passing  by  in  the  train.  It  was  a 
fast  train,  but  it  stopped  here,  and  we  were  immediately  struck 
by  the  beauty,  the  attractiveness  of  the  station  square. 

Mrs.  Newcome:  Yes,  my  husband  said  at  once,  "Good  heavens !  What 
place  can  this  be?" 


68  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Mrs.  Darien:  It  is  beautiful  at  the  station,  isn't  it?  We  take  a 
great  deal  of  pride  in  the  appearance  we  present  to  the  passing 
public. 

Mr.  Darien  :  Both  stations,  the  Darien  and  the  Noroton,  we  intend 
shall  be  as  beautiful,  as  attractive,  as  you  said,  as  they  can  be 
made.     We  want  them  to  attract. 

Mr.  NeM^come  :  They  certainly  do.  Mrs.  Newcome  said,  "Let  us 
get  out  and  see  this  place !"  And  right  on  the  spur  of  the  moment 
— here  we  are ! 

Mrs.  Newcome:  We  noticed  the  swans  and  the  ducks  in  the  pond 
there  near  the  station.  In  fact,  we  went  and  watched  them  a 
little.  How  do  you  happen  to  have  these  swans?  And  such 
a  variety  of  them !  Really,  this  is  an  extraordinary  town !  Most 
towns  would  never  dream  of  having  a  swan-pond — much  less 
of  having  it  right  in  the  railroad  station  park. 

Mr.  Darien  :  Why,  that  is  the  pond  of  a  bird  farm.  It  is  a  local 
business.  It  is  not  a  natural  history  garden.  Simply  the  owner 
has  had  the  side  of  his  place  toward  the  station  treated  so  that 
it  will  harmonize  with  the  landscaping  of  the  station  park. 

Mrs.  Newcome:  And  as  there  is  no  crude  advertising,  it  is,  of  course, 
the  best  kind  of  an  advertisement. 

Mrs.  Darien  :  We  use  what  we  have.  There  is  something  dis- 
tinctive and  different  in  every  town,  if  the  people  would  only 
recognize  the  fact  and  take  advantage  of  it. 

Mr.  Darien  :  Yes,  everything  here  is  done  so  as  to  serve  both  the 
private  interests  and  desires  of  the  individual  and  the  general 
pleasure  and  benefit  of  the  public,  without  their  conflicting  with 
each  other.  For  instance,  the  beautiful  appearance  of  the  busi- 
ness street,  as  well  as  of  the  residential  streets,  is  a  thing  that 
can  be  enjoyed  by  all  and  that  concerns  all. 

Mrs.  Newcome:  And  what  is  this  folk-dancing?  We  asked  the 
station  agent  if  there  was  anything  of  interest  to  see  in  other 
parts  of  the  town  and  he  told  us  of  this.  This  is  an  extraor- 
dinary town ! 

Mrs.  Darien  :  You  will  see  what  it  is.  Here  they  come  now.  Here 
are  some  of  our   foreign-born   and  some  of  our  American-born 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  69 

young  people  who  are  going  to  dance  the  Tarentella  all  at 
the  same  time.  Of  course,  all  our  young  people  are  organized 
as  Boy  Scouts  or  Camp  Fire  Girls.    You  know  about  them? 

Mr.  Newcome:   Oh,  yes,  certainly. 

The  Tarentella  is  danced. 

Mr.  Newcome:   Is  this  a  Socialist  communtiy? 

Mr.  Darien  :  Gracious  goodness,  no !  We  simply  respect  each  other. 
That  is  all.  Everyone  here  can  and  does  keep  to  himself  as 
much  as  he  pleases,  chooses  his  own  friends,  and  everything. 
But  we  recognize  that  we  all  have  certain  common  interests  in 
recreation  as  well  as  in  business  or  in  anything  else.  It  is  not 
really  a  new  idea.  There  is  nothing  new  about  parks  for  all  of 
the  public,  nor  about  public  concerts  and  celebrations.  Why 
not  something  of  common  recreation  all  the  year  for  the  whole 
town? 

Mr.  Newcome  :  How  did  you  get  such  a  harmonious  public  opinion 
in  the  town?    All  this  would  be  impossible  without  that! 

Mr.  Darien  :  I  suppose  it  comes  from  the  fact  that  all  of  us  air  our 
views  freely  on  matters  of  public  interest  in  the  local  news- 
paper— The  Darien-Noroton  Review.  It  makes  no  difference 
if  we  agree  with  or  oppose  the  views  supported  by  the  paper.  We 
all  write  and  we  all  read.  We  have  lively  times  once  in  a  while, 
but  we  have  no  sulky  citizens.  So  we  get  into  the  habit  of  all 
co-operating  and  yet  all  having  our  own  opinions, — and  express- 
ing them. 

Mr.  Newcome:  A  town  can  have  anything  it  wants  if  all  the  people 
will  co-operate.  You  have  fine  roads,  I  see.  This  road  up  here, 
where  does  it  go  to? 

Mr.  Darien  :  It  is  the  main  road  between  New  York  and  New 
Haven.  It  connects  the  two  ends  of  the  town.  They  used  to 
be  distinct  villages,  Darien  and  Noroton,  but  the  good  road 
and  the  Social  Center  have  drawn  them  right  together,  so  that 
it  really  is  all  one  town  now. 

Mrs.  Newcome:    Social  Center?     What  is  that? 

Mrs.  Darien:  That  is  a  building  and  grounds  up  on  the  Post  Road 
half  way  between  the  two  ends  of  the  town. 


70  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Mrs.  Newcome:   Oh,  yes,  we  saw  it. 

Mr.  Newcome:   I  thought  it  was  a  club. 

Mr.  Darien:  It  is,  really.  It  is  the  town's  club.  All  the  recreation 
of  the  town  centers  there — when  it  wants  to.  People  can  en- 
gage the  hall  at  a  very  low  price  for  private  dances.  Public 
lectures  and  concerts  are  given  there  through  the  winter.  There 
is  a  stage  for  the  dramatic  clubs.  Mass  meetings  on  public  ques- 
tions are  held  there.  The  town  tennis  and  golfing  tournaments 
are  managed  there.  The  Darien  Hunt  assembles  there — and  so 
on. 

Mr.  Newcome  :  I  should  like  to  live  here.  This  is  an  extraordinary 
town! 

Mrs.  Newcome:    It  surely  is!    How  is  commutation? 

Mr.  Darien  :  The  rates  are  very  reasonable.  It  used  to  be  fearfully 
high,  but  co-operation  in  dealing  with  the  matter  brought  relief. 
It  is  only  $9.00  a  month,  and  a  little  more  than  an  hour  from 
Grand  Central.  When  we  get  home  we  find  everything  that  is 
restful  and  delightful — in  a  real  home  town. 

Mr.  Newcome:   Are  there  many  commuters  here? 

Mr.  Darien  :    Yes,  there  are  quite  a  lot  of  us  that  go  in  all  together 

and  come  out  all  together  every  day ! 

Mr.  Newcome:   All  together  is  the  word  here,  eh! 

Mr.  Darien  :   That's  it ! 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Newcome:  What  is  this? 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Darien  :   I  do  not  know. 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Newcome:  This  is  an  extraordinary  town!  Listen!  It 
is  like  a  dream. 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  71 


FINALE:    THE  COMMUNITY  HOME 

The  group  of  people  of  The  New  Darien  remain.  The  Man, 
bearing  his  burden,  (the  same  Man  as  in  the  Introduction)  and  his 
family  come  in  and  go  up  through  the  middle  of  the  field  to  the  Place 
of  Rest  and  Strength.  They  build  a  fire  there.  As  the  fire  blazes  up, 
the  Angel  comes  forth  from  the  woods,  accompanied  by  the  other 
Angels.  The  Forest  and  Water  Spirits  also  appear  in  the  edge  of 
the  woods  and  along  the  shore.  The  Darien  people  watch  all  that 
happens  with  amazement.  The  Man  notices  them  and  goes  down 
toward  them,  his  hands  extended  cordially  toward  them. 

The  Man:  Friends,  your  faces  are  unfamiliar  to  me  but  I  feel  that 
we  are  kin. 

Darien  Citizen  :  Good  afternoon,  sir !  I  trust  we  have  not  intruded 
upon  your  privacy.  We  have  been  much  interested  and  astonished 
at  what  we  have  seen. 

The  Man:  I  assure  you  there  is  no  intrusion.  What  I  count  my 
great  good  fortune,  I  am  glad  and  anxious  to  share  with  all. 
For  at  last  I  have  found  the  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength.  But 
maybe  you  have  always  lived  in  this  blessed  place? 

Darien  Citizen  :  On  the  contrary,  we  were  amazed  at  what  we  saw 
when  you  built  the  fire. 

The  Man  :  Come  up  then.  Truly  I  tell  you  that  here  close  at  hand 
is  that  happy  place  that  all  men  seek,  the  Place  of  Rest  and 
Strength.    With  me  and  ray  family  come  and  enjoy  its  benefits. 

Darien  Citizen:    Is  there  anything  we  must  do  to  share  in  these 

benefits  ? 
The  Man:    Only  bring  wood  and  help   feed  the  fire.     Then  shall 

we  be  all  as  one  family ! 

The  Darien  people  gather  some  wood,  and   following  the  Man 
go  up  to  the  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength.     As  they  throw  their  wood 


72  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

upon  the  fire,  the  Angel  raises  her  sword  and  the  other  Angels  their 
arms  in  blessing.    The  people  kneel  for  a  moment. 

Darien  Citizen  :  There  are  many  others  who  have  lived  in  this 
neighborhood  before  ourselves.  May  they  not  also  come  to  this 
Place  of  Rest  and  Strength? 

The  Man  :  Most  certainly  may  they  come  and  most  welcome !  For 
truly  I  tell  you,  if  all  the  people  of  the  past  and  of  the  present 
gather  together  around  this  Place  of  Rest  and  Strength,  the 
gracious  Spirit  of  America  will  come  and  abide  in  this  place 
forever ! 

The  Man  steps  forward  and  raises  his  hands  summoning  all  the 
generations  of  Darien.  From  either  side  of  the  field  they  come  singing, 
every  man,  woman  and  child  bringing  a  faggot.  As  they  pass  neat  the 
fire  they  throw  their  wood  upon  the  fire,  and  gather  in  a  mass  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  field.  As  the  fire  blazes  up,  in  the  music  the 
Angel  theme  towers  higher  and  higher,  as  if  at  last,  with  the  com- 
ing of  all  the  people,  it  were  free  for  its  fullest  expression. 

THE  SONG  OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF  DARIEN. 

Men  of  every  age  we  come, 

Down  the  years  with  joyous  feet, 

Gathering  round  the  common  fire 
Where  the  past  and   future  meet! 

Singing  songs  of  days  that  were, 

Greet  we  here  the  future's  fire, 
Bringing  wood  to  feed  its  blaze 

And  the  dreams  of  old  desire! 

Ours  the  hands  that  made  that  fire ! 

We  have  watched  it  through  the  night! 
Hail  to  each  succeeding  day 

That  shall  keep  it  burning  bright! 

Through  the  wood-road  comes  riding  on  horse-back  the  figure 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  in  blue  with  a  silver  wreath,  the  shield 
of  the  State  on  her  arm  and  the  flag  of  the  State  in  her  hand.  She 
is  accompanied  by  the  other  New  England  States  and  New  York  on 


The  Pageant  of  Darien.  TZ 

horse-back,  each  carrying  her  shield  but  not  her  flag.  They  ride  out 
from  the  wood-road  and  diverge,  forming  two  groups  on  either  side  of 
the  road.  Connecticut  rides  back  into  the  woods  and  returns  escorting 
America.  America  is  on  a  white  horse.  She  is  clothed  in  white.  She 
carries  the  shield  of  the  United  States  on  her  arm  and  the  American 
flag  in  her  hand.  As  America  and  Connecticut  come  forward  from  out 
of  the  wood-road,  the  other  States  fall  in  behind.  To  the  music  of  The 
Star  Spangled  Banner,  America  and  the  States  ride  forward  and 
around  to  a  position  behind  the  fire.  America  lifts  the  flag  high  in  the 
air.  All  the  people  of  the  pageant  kneel,  and  sing  the  last  stanza, 
the  prayer  stanza  of  "America". 

AMERICA. 

Our  fathers'  God,  to  Thee, 
Author  of  Liberty, 

To  Thee  we  sing! 
Long  may  our  land  be  bright 
With  Freedom's  holy  light! 
Protect  us  by  Thy  might. 

Great  God,  our  King! 

Then  rising,  all  the  people  march  in  massed  column  as  in  review, 
past  America,  Connecticut  and  the  States,  going  out  by  the  wood- 
road,  singing  as  they  go. 

THE  RECESSIONAL   SONG  OF  DARIEN. 

Hail  to  Thee,  America! 

Freedom's  Home  and  glorious  State ! 
Life  and  all  we  have  to  Thee 

Now  again  we  consecrate ! 

Thine  we  are  as  now  we  pass 

On  into  the  gathering  night, 
Seeking  still  the  greater  dawn 

And  the  joyous  morning  light! 


74  The  Pageant  of  Darien. 

Far  off  in  the  sun-set  glow 

Of  the  great  on-coming  years, 
There  the  future's  clarion  calls 

Greet  our  eager  listening  ears! 

Ye  who  e'er  shall  dwell  here,  come 
From  the  passing  throngs   of   men, 

Follow  down  the  westward  path, 
And  sing  the  Song  of  Darien ! 

When  all  the  people  have  gone,  America,  Connecticut  and  the 
other  States  ride  out  after  them  by  the  wood- road,  leaving  only  the 
Man  and  his  family,  the  Angels  and  the  Spirits.  The  Spirits  retire 
back  into  the  woods  and  to  the  water.  The  Angel  leads  the  Man 
and  his  family  up  the  hill,  the  w^ay  they  went  in  the  Introduction,  the 
other  Angels  also  accompanying  them.  As  they  disappear,  the  Tide 
with  all  her  Water  Spirits  washes  up  over  the  field  and  back  again 
out  to  sea. 


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